Pregnancy Intention: A Concept Analysis.

Abstract

Pregnancy intention is widely used in sexual and reproductive health research and practice, yet its conceptual boundaries remain insufficiently defined. This imprecision limits consistent interpretation and shapes how nurses and other health professionals assess and support women's reproductive decision-making across the reproductive continuum. Objective: to clarify the concept of pregnancy intention and to propose a conceptual definition applicable to nursing practice, sexual and reproductive health care, and health promotion. Methods: A concept analysis was conducted using Walker and Avant's eight-step method. A structured search of the literature published between 2014 and 2025 in English, Spanish, and Portuguese was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science, SAGE, ScienceDirect, SciELO, and Dimensions, complemented by lexicographic sources and grey literature. Data were extracted and analyzed to identify the concept's uses, defining attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents. Results: Pregnancy intention emerged as a multidimensional concept defined by three attributes: temporal orientation toward a future pregnancy, conscious deliberation about conceiving, and contextual appraisal of readiness. It is defined as a woman's conscious and prospective disposition toward a future pregnancy, involving deliberation about conceiving and contextual appraisal of her readiness in relation to the personal, relational, socioeconomic, and health-related circumstances she considers relevant to the decision. Conclusions: The proposed definition provides a theoretically coherent basis for reproductive assessment, preconception care, and woman-centered health promotion. By recognizing the personal, social, and structural conditions relevant to women's health, including socioeconomic conditions that may contribute to broader social determinants of health, it also supports a health-equity perspective and provides a basis for future prospective measurement that reflects women's reproductive experiences.