Unwanted Pregnancy and Associated Factors among Female Students of Madawalabu University Bale Zone, Oromia Region South East, Ethiopia

Abstract

Globally as well as in the developing world unintended pregnancies are among the major social and health problems. In Ethiopia, 54% of pregnancies to girls under age 15 are unwanted. In some countries where accesses to safe and legal abortion services are restricted, unsafe abortion is the cause for more than 30% of maternal deaths. The aim of this study was to assess factors associated with unwanted pregnancy among female students of Madawalabu University from 01- 21, March 2014. A cross sectional study was conducted among 814 female students of Madawalabu university drawn randomly from 6 selected schools in 01- 21, March 2014. Self administered questionnaire, adapted from previous relevant studies was used to assess Factors associated with unwanted pregnancy among female students of Madawalabu University. Data was entered, cleaned and then analyzed using Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models. A total of 814 female students responded to the questionnaire adequately making the response rate of 96%. The mean age of study participants was 20.74 years with standard deviation of 1.47. The overall prevalence of unwanted pregnancy among those who ever had sexual intercourse was 8.1% and among all study participants it was 32.4%. Ever hearing about family planning, consistent use of family planning in the last twelve months, and drinking alcohol in the last one week were among significantly associated with unwanted pregnancy Thus, Madawalabu University HIV/AIDS prevention and control office and other stakeholders are recommended to promote extensively family planning utilization to avoid unwanted pregnancies.