Proportion Of Unplanned Pregnancies Research Articles

Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on access to contraception and pregnancy intentions: a national prospective cohort study of the UK population

ObjectiveEvaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to contraception and pregnancy intentions.DesignNationwide prospective cohort study.SettingUnited Kingdom.ParticipantsWomen in the UK who were pregnant between 24 May and 31 December...

Proportion of unplanned pregnancies, their determinants and health outcomes of women delivering at a teaching hospital in Sri Lanka

BackgroundUnplanned pregnancy is a significant public health issue in both low- and high-income countries. The burden of unplanned pregnancy is reflected in women opting for pregnancy terminations and it can be detrimental to the women and her family as well as the health system and society. Solid data on the proportion of unplanned pregnancies are using more specific tools such as the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (LMUP) needed to address the issue in Sri Lankan contexts. The objective was to describe the proportion of unplanned pregnancies, their determinants and the health outcomes of women delivering at Colombo North Teaching Hospital-Ragama (CNTH).MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out among 494 consecutive pregnant women selected by non-probability consecutive sampling who were admitted for the confinement at CNTH. A pre-tested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on antenatal women and intentionality measured by self-administered six-item LMUP. Maternal and newborn health outcomes were ascertained in each post-partum women before discharge. Data were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests and spearman rank correlation. We also evaluated the psychometric properties of the Sinhalese version of LMUP.ResultsThe response rate was 97.8 and 17.2% of pregnancies ending at birth were unplanned, 12.7% were ambivalent and 70.1% were planned.Associated factor profile of women with unplanned pregnancies includes; not married women (p = 0.001), educated up to the passing of GCE ordinary level by women (p < 0.001) and spouse (p < 0.001), primiparity (p = 0.002) and inadequate knowledge on emergency contraceptives (p = 0.037). Less planned pregnancies were also significantly associated with anemia (p = 0.004), low mood for last 2 weeks (p < 0.001), having a partner with problematic alcohol consumption (p < 0.001), presence of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) (p < 0.001), poor relationship satisfaction with partner (p < 0.001) and family (p < 0.001). Inadequate pre-pregnancy preparation and antenatal care were associated with an unplanned pregnancy. No differences were found in neonatal outcomes. Sinhalese version of the LMUP scale was found to be accepted, valid and reliable with the Cronbach’s alpha of 0.936.ConclusionsA sizeable proportion of pregnancies were unplanned. Teenage pregnancies, non-marital relationships and inadequate knowledge on emergency contraceptives, maternal anemia, low mood, and GBV were modifiable associated factors which could be prevented by evidence-based locally applicable approaches.

Adverse effects of teenage pregnancy

Recent studies have suggested that teenage pregnancies are not as hazardous as thought to be earlier. To compare the sociodemographic data, obstetric complications and attitudes towards family planning in teenagers and older women. A prospective cohort study at the University Obstetrics Unit, Teaching Hospital, Galle. Sociodemographic data, details of antenatal care and family support, antenatal complications, gestation at delivery, mode of delivery, the proportion of unplanned pregnancies, and the possible effects of contraceptive counselling, in two groups of pregnant teenagers (13-16 years, n = 95 and 17-19 years, n = 250) were compared with a control group of pregnant women (20-24 years, n = 275). The teenagers were from lower socioeconomic strata and the younger teenagers were significantly less educated than the controls. Teenagers had a significantly higher risk of anaemia (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.3, 95%CI = 1.7-3.3, p < 0.001). The younger teenagers had a significantly higher risk of gestational hypertension (OR = 4.8, 95%CI = 1.8-13.0, p < 0.001) and pre-eclampsia (OR = 5.0, 95%CI = 1-27, p = 0.03). The older teenagers had a significantly higher risk of delivery before 34 weeks of gestation (OR = 13.6, 95%CI = 1.8-287, p = 0.001). There were no significant differences in the mode of delivery. The younger teenagers had a much higher proportion (54%) of unplanned pregnancies compared to the controls (16 %). A significantly higher proportion of younger teenagers (48%) and older teenagers (25 %), if counselled, would have delayed their pregnancies compared to the controls (10 %). Teenage pregnancies, especially those below 17 years of age have a significantly higher risk of adverse outcomes. A large proportion of these pregnancies is unplanned and could be prevented by counselling.

Unintended Pregnancy in the United States

Current debates on how to reduce the high U.S. abortion rate often fail to take into account the role of unintended pregnancy, an important determinant of abortion. Data from the 1982, 1988 and 1995 cycles of the National Survey of Family Growth, supplemented by data from other sources, are used to estimate 1994 rates and percentages of unintended birth and pregnancy and the proportion of women who have experienced an unintended birth, an abortion or both. In addition, estimates are made of the proportion of women who will have had an abortion by age 45. Excluding miscarriages, 49% of the pregnancies concluding in 1994 were unintended; 54% of these ended in abortion. Forty-eight percent of women aged 15-44 in 1994 had had at least one unplanned pregnancy sometime in their lives; 28% had had one or more unplanned births, 30% had had one or more abortions and 11% had had both. At 1994 rates, women can expect to have 1.42 unintended pregnancies by the time they are 45, and at 1992 rates, 43% of women will have had an abortion. Between 1987 and 1994, the unintended pregnancy rate declined by 16%, from 54 to 45 per 1,000 women of reproductive age. The proportion of unplanned pregnancies that ended in abortion increased among women aged 20 and older, but decreased among teenagers, who are now more likely than older women to continue their unplanned pregnancies. The unintended pregnancy rate was highest among women who were aged 18-24, unmarried, low-income, black or Hispanic. Rates of unintended pregnancy have declined, probably as a result of higher contraceptive prevalence and use of more effective methods. Efforts to achieve further decreases should focus on reducing risky behavior, promoting the use of effective contraceptive methods and improving the effectiveness with which all methods are used.

Unplanned pregnancies at antenatal clinic

Between May and June 1986 a case control study of late and early attenders at antenatal clinic took place in two South Wales hospitals, one urban and one rural. The study examined the social and attitudinal characteristics of 115 late attenders (18 weeks or later) and a similar number of age matched early attenders (15 weeks or earlier). It was found that 52% of study pregnancies were unplanned with a significantly greater proportion in late attenders at the urban hospital but similar proportions in late and early attenders at the rural hospital. The proportion of unplanned pregnancies was greater in manual workers compared with non manual workers when measured by the respondent's most frequent paid employment at both hospitals and greater in manual partners at the urban hospital. Unplanned pregnancy was more common in women with unemployed partners at the rural hospital. Of those with an unplanned pregnancy 79% had used no contraception or had used their chosen method inconsistently with no significant difference between late and early attenders in the proportions using contraception or in the method used.

The realization of family planning in Finland with particular reference to development in the 1970's

In the 1977 Finnish Fertility Survey conducted as part of the World Fertility Survey a national sample of 5449 currently married women aged 15-44 were interviewed. The data collected in 1977 was compared to data collected in a 1971 survey in an effort to identify trends in fertility planning. Trends toward increased contraceptive knowledge and toward greater usage of effective contraceptive methods were identified. These trends were accompanied by a corresponding decrease in the proportion of unplanned pregnancies and a closer approximation between ideal and actual family size. In other words progress toward the realization of family planning goals was observed during the period 1971-1977. In 1971 3% of the surveyed women had no knowledge of contraception. In 1977 only 0.2% of the respondents lacked contraceptive knowledge. In 1971 the most common methods were withdrawal (OCs) oral contraceptives and condoms. During the period 1971-1977 the % of women who relied on withdrawal and OCs declined markedly the % who used condoms remained the same and the % who used IUDs increased considerably. In the 1977 study respondents were assigned to 1 of 9 categories on the basis of their level of need satifaction or their general level of social and economic well-being. These groups differed little in regard to contraceptive usage. The 1971 survey indicated 10% of the 1st 4 pregnancies for women aged 18-54 were unwanted and 38% occurred earlier than desired. For births occurring between 1972-1977 only 6% of the 1st 4 pregnancies were unwanted. Findings suggested that actual birth intervals were shorter than ideal birth intervals. In 1977 women aged 40-44 had an average of 2.7 children and their mean ideal number of children was 2.7. A table provided data on contraceptive usage by respondents level of need satifaction.

"Perceived Contribution of Children to Marriage and its Effects on Family Planning Behavior."

PIP: The impact of the perceived consequences of having children on a couple's contraceptive practices and the tendency to plan births are examined. 2 separate measures of family planning were utilized, contraceptive pattern and proportion of unplanned pregnancies. It was found that the more a woman viewed children as an essential part of the marital experience the less likely she was to use reliable contraception early in marriage. The influence of the evaluation of children on contraceptive practices also was contingent upon the number of children a couple had had and the number of years they had been married. Differences in incidence of unplanned pregnancies among women was more a result of socioeconomic circumstance and the tendency to have a large family than attitude towards children. These 2 aspects of family planning have different implications for policy decisions. Changing the incidence of unplanned pregnancies would entail attacking those conditions which handicap couples in changing their life circumstances. It would involve educating them to the concept of family planning and the techniques of birth control and also increasing economic opportunity. Changing contraceptive patterns, on the other hand, might involve encouraging alternative adult roles, and creating differential incentives for childbearing.

PERCEIVED CONTRIBUTION OF CHILDREN TO MARRIAGE AND ITS EFFECTS ON FAMILY PLANNING BEHAVIOR

PIP: The impact of the perceived consequences of having children on a couple's contraceptive practices and the tendency to plan births are examined. 2 separate measures of family planning were utilized, contraceptive pattern and proportion of unplanned pregnancies. It was found that the more a woman viewed children as an essential part of the marital experience the less likely she was to use reliable contraception early in marriage. The influence of the evaluation of children on contraceptive practices also was contingent upon the number of children a couple had had and the number of years they had been married. Differences in incidence of unplanned pregnancies among women was more a result of socioeconomic circumstance and the tendency to have a large family than attitude towards children. These 2 aspects of family planning have different implications for policy decisions. Changing the incidence of unplanned pregnancies would entail attacking those conditions which handicap couples in changing their life circumstances. It would involve educating them to the concept of family planning and the techniques of birth control and also increasing economic opportunity. Changing contraceptive patterns, on the other hand, might involve encouraging alternative adult roles, and creating differential incentives for childbearing.

Perceived contribution of children to marriage and its effects on family planning behavior.

The impact of the perceived consequences of having children on a couple's contraceptive practices and the tendency to plan births are examined. 2 separate measures of family planning were utilized, contraceptive pattern and proportion of unplanned pregnancies. It was found that the more a woman viewed children as an essential part of the marital experience the less likely she was to use reliable contraception early in marriage. The influence of the evaluation of children on contraceptive practices also was contingent upon the number of children a couple had had and the number of years they had been married. Differences in incidence of unplanned pregnancies among women was more a result of socioeconomic circumstance and the tendency to have a large family than attitude towards children. These 2 aspects of family planning have different implications for policy decisions. Changing the incidence of unplanned pregnancies would entail attacking those conditions which handicap couples in changing their life circumstances. It would involve educating them to the concept of family planning and the techniques of birth control and also increasing economic opportunity. Changing contraceptive patterns, on the other hand, might involve encouraging alternative adult roles, and creating differential incentives for childbearing.