Abstract
Given that, on average, immigrant Mexican women in the United States have relatively low socioeconomic
status, researchers have sought explanations for their favorable pregnancy outcomes.
Strong family support in the Mexican culture has been proposed as a contributing factor
that is protective of maternal and child health. However, family support may not be determined
exogenously. Complex associations may exist between family support, the circumstances of a
pregnancy, and whether the pregnancy was planned or welcomed.
In this article, we present findings from a qualitative exploratory study among pregnant women
in two Mexican border cities. The goals of this article are to examine the extent to which
family and partner support are provided to pregnant women in the Mexican culture, whether
such support appears to influence their health-promoting behaviors during pregnancy, and the
circumstances under which such support is denied to women. Findings suggest that women
who do not cohabit with the baby’s father predating their pregnancy are less likely to welcome
the pregnancy and to receive family support. The influence of family support on maternal behavior
and health was stronger among primiparous women than among women who have had a
previous pregnancy.
Keywords: 1. Mexico, 2. U.S.-Mexico border, 3. unintended pregnancy, 4. family support, 5. pregnancy
behaviors.