Interrelationships Between Pregnancy Intention, Antenatal Care, and Sociodemographic Factors: Analysis of a Nationwide Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Vietnam.

Abstract

This study aimed to improve the understanding of the interrelationships between sociodemographic factors, pregnancy intention, and antenatal care by: (1) identifying sociodemographic predictors of unintended pregnancy; (2) examining associations between unintended pregnancy types and antenatal care (ANC) inadequacy; (3) examining how the association between unintended pregnancy and ANC inadequacy is modified by maternal characteristics; and (4) identifying sociodemographic predictors of ANC inadequacy by pregnancy intention status. We analyzed women 15-49 years of age who participated in the nationwide cross-sectional Vietnam Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. Pregnancy intention and ANC adequacy were assessed for the most recent live birth within two years preceding survey completion. Weighted Poisson regression was used to estimate risk ratios. Of the 1,474 study participants, 17.8% had unintended pregnancy and 29.0% had inadequate ANC. There was no significant confounding-adjusted association between unintended pregnancy and ANC inadequacy, except in those currently not working. Women with intended pregnancy or unintended pregnancy had significantly higher ANC inadequacy risk if they lived in rural areas, were less educated, and had no media exposure, lower wealth status, or more than two children. Younger age, ever given birth, having child loss, and positive attitude towards partner violence were significant predictors of ANC inadequacy only in women with intended pregnancy. ANC inadequacy was more strongly predicted by sociodemographic characteristics rather than pregnancy intention, and the sociodemographic variables' prediction of ANC inadequacy was stronger in women with intended pregnancy than unintended pregnancy.