Abstract
BackgroundUnintended pregnancy rates are substantially higher in developing regions, have significant health consequences, and disproportionately affect subgroups with socio-economic disadvantage. We aimed to examine whether there is an association between husbands’ education status and their wives unintended pregnancy in southern Ethiopia.MethodsThe data source for this study was from a cross-sectional study on iron-folate supplementation and compliance in Wolaita, South Ethiopia. Data were collected from October to November 2015 in 627 married pregnant women regarding their husbands’ education status, socio-demographic characteristics, and if they wanted to become pregnant at the time of survey using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to estimate Odds Ratios (ORs) with associated z-tests and 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) for variables associated with unintended pregnancy.ResultsThe proportion of unintended pregnancy in this sample was 20.6%. Husbands’ education status, age, residence, and using family planning methods were associated with unintended pregnancy (all P-values < 0.05). Multivariable models consistently showed that being married to a husband with at least some college or university education was associated with a decreased OR for unintended pregnancy after controlling for age and use of family planning at conception period (OR 0.36 [95%CI: 0.17, 0.82]) and age and rural residence (OR 0.40 [95%CI: 0.18, 0.90]).ConclusionUnintended pregnancy among Ethiopian woman was consistently associated with being married to least educated husbands in southern Ethiopia. Increasing age and living in a rural vs urban area were also independently associated with unintended pregnancy. Strategies for addressing family planning needs of women with poorly educated husbands should be the subject of future research.
Highlights
Unintended pregnancies are associated with an increased health and economic burden, especially in developing regions [1]
Husbands’ education status, age, residence, and using family planning methods were associated with unintended pregnancy
Multivariable models consistently showed that being married to a husband with at least some college or university education was associated with a decreased Odds Ratios (ORs) for unintended pregnancy after controlling for age and use of family planning at conception period and age and rural residence
Summary
Unintended pregnancies are associated with an increased health and economic burden, especially in developing regions [1]. There are several health risks associated with unintended pregnancy for both the mother and the newborn. These include, but are not limited to, abortion, pre-eclampsia, postpartum haemorrhage, maternal death, and preterm birth [4]. Unintended pregnancies that occur in developing countries are associated with an increased risk of unsafe abortions, which is exacerbated by poor access to appropriate health care [1]. Further research of high-risk subgroups and predictors of unintended pregnancy is needed to inform family planning services and policies in both Ethiopia and developing counties in general. Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, UNITED STATES
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