The frequency of unplanned pregnancies during the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors affecting the situation

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the incidence of unplanned pregnancies and the factors affecting it during the COVID-19 pandemic. An analytical-cross-sectional study was carried out at a public hospital in Aydın, Turkey between January and October 2021. The sample of the study comprised 220 pregnant women. The data was collected with a Pregnant Information Form, and the Pearson Chi-square test and Binary Logistic Regression analysis were employed in the analysis. It was determined that the incidence of unplanned pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic was 33.6% and that number of living children [AOR:0.73, 95% CI:(0.23–0.99)], thought of having another child [AOR:1.21, 95% CI:(1.43–7.89)], the family planning method used [AOR:1.31, 95% CI:(1.05–5.22)], and having problems in reaching a family planning method [AOR:1.97, 95% CI:(0.04–0.50)] affected the occurrence of unplanned pregnancies (p < .05).

IMPACT STATEMENT

• What is already known on this subject? Unplanned pregnancies adversely affect maternal and newborn health.

• What do the results of this study add? It was found that approximately one out of three pregnancies during the COVID-19 pandemic process was unplanned and that the number of living children, the thought of having another child, the family planning method used, and having problems in obtaining a family planning method affected the occurrence of unplanned pregnancies.

• What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? It can guide politicians in the arrangements regarding sexual and reproductive health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• unplanned pregnancy
• family planning
• contraceptive methods
• midwife

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all women who participated in the study.

Ethical approval

Ethics approval to undertake this work granted by Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Protocol No: 2020/057).

Submission declaration

This study has not been published elsewhere before. This study was presented online at the 5th International 6th National Midwifery Congress, 11−14 November 2021, Turkey.

Author contributions

YS: Concept, Design, Data Collection and/or Processing, Analysis and/or Interpretation, Literature Search, Writing. RKO: Concept, Design, Analysis and/or Interpretation, Literature Search, Writing. HBŞ: Concept, Design, Data Collection and/or Processing, Analysis and/or Interpretation, Literature Search, Writing. AT: Concept, Design, Supervision, Analysis and/or Interpretation, Literature Search, Writing, Critical Review.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data available on request from the authors.