Risk factors for unwanted pregnancy and subsequent abortion among women aged 16 to 25 years in Latvia

Abstract

Objective To investigate the risk factors associated with unwanted pregnancy in 16- to 25-year-old women in Latvia.

Methods Case-control study of 16- to 25-year-old, sexually active women who did not want to get pregnant: the cases were 144 women who underwent their first abortion whereas 278 nulliparous women served as controls. Data concerning them were obtained by using a semi-structured anonymous questionnaire that included questions about education, sexual life habits, contraceptive practice and a multiple-choice test to assess knowledge about contraception.

Results Women who underwent an abortion had had more lifetime sexual partners, had more often not used any contraception, and were significantly less knowledgeable about the latter than controls. No strong correlation between knowledge and actual contraceptive practice was observed in the study groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that the most significant risk factors were non-use of contraception or use of less effective methods.

Conclusions The risk of unwanted pregnancy was associated with the woman's behaviour; her knowledge of contraception was much less relevant. Sexual health programmes should focus more on intrapersonal and interpersonal factors to promote use of effective contraception among young women.

Chinese Abstract

摘要:

目的：探讨16-25岁拉脱维亚女性非意愿妊娠相关的危险因素。

方法：采用病例对照研究，研究对象是16-25岁的不想怀孕的性活跃的女性，其中144名经历第一次流产的女性为研究对象，278名未妊娠的女性作为对照组。相关信息通过匿名的半结构式问卷获得，问卷包括以下问题：受教育程度、性生活习惯、避孕措施的实施以及关于避孕知识的多选题等。

结果：和对照组相比，经历流产的女性总的性伴侣数较多，较经常不使用任何避孕措施，避孕知识明显不足。避孕知识和采取避孕措施之间的相关性不强。Logistic回归分析结果显示不采取避孕措施或采取效果较差的避孕方法是最显著的危险因素。

结论：非意愿妊娠的风险和女性的行为有关，与她的避孕相关知识相关性不大。性健康计划应更多的关注女性内心及外界人际间的因素来促进年轻女性使用有效的避孕措施。

Keywords:

• Abortion
• Contraception
• Adolescent
• Young adult
• Knowledge of contraception
• Latvia

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interests. The authors alone are responsible for the content and the writing of the paper.

The study was financially supported in 2010 by the European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health.