The impact of pregnancy on the individual and military organization: a postpartum active duty survey.

Using a postpartum survey, comparing singles to married, we sought to expand existing information on pregnancy occurring among active duty service women. The study instrument was a 59-question survey distributed in the initial 24 hours postpartum and collected prior to discharge. The majority affirmed that pregnancy had not changed career plans. Singles did not consider their commands supportive during pregnancy, (p=.04). Eighty-two percent of pregnancies among singles were unplanned, (p=.006). The majority of single pregnancies occurred while assigned to operational units, (p=.004); and during their first enlistment, (p<.001). Three-quarters of all singles required Women Infants and Children (WIC) financial support, (p<.001); and fewer fathers were, or planned to be involved, (p<.001). Unplanned pregnancy, contraceptive failure, and pregnancy complications highlight areas of organizational and individual concern warranting further study among active duty.