Unplanned pregnancies continued to term: a cross sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In spite of the current high contraceptive prevalence rate a significant proportion of births in Sri Lanka result from unplanned pregnancies. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of unplanned pregnancies among women delivering at a teaching hospital and to determine the socio demographic factors associated with these pregnancies. Methods: 991 women admitted for delivery to the university obstetric unit, Ragama between 14/08/2003 and 21/11/2003 were recruited for the study. Data with regard to the planning of their pregnancies and associated factors were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with unplanned pregnancies. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of the women and their partners were 28.3 (5.7) and 31.7 (6.0) years respectively. 23% of Women and 18% of men had less than 10 years of schooling (low level of education). The percentage of first, second and third or higher pregnancies were 51.5, 33.6 and 14.9 respectively. The median (Interquartile range) monthly income was RupeeslO.OOO (6,000-15,000). 34,4% were unplanned pregnancies. Compared to planned pregnancies higher parity (odds ratio - OR for P2=2.8, P3+=8.9), low levels of education of women (OR=1.5), and partners aged under 30 (OR=2.3) or over 40 (OR=1.5) were independently associated with unplanned pregnancies, CONCLUSIONS: Unplanned pregnancies accounted for over 1/3 of all pregnancies in this sub-urban population. Partners' age, low educational level of the mother and higher parity appear to be associated with unplanned pregnancies. Greater emphasis should be made on contraceptive advice to this group of women.