https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5496-7765
Abstract
Background
Unintended pregnancy is an important public health concern in both developing and developed countries due to its serious consequences for women, infants, families and communities, including the risk of unsafe abortion, delayed prenatal care, poor maternal mental health, poor child health outcomes and unemployment.
Objective
The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of unintended pregnancy among pregnant women in the town of Debre Markos in 2019.
Methods
The magnitude and associated factors of unintended pregnancy were assessed using a community-based cross-sectional study design. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select five Kebeles (basic administrative units), and households were selected from the selected Kebeles using simple random sampling. A total of 580 samples were collected through standardized pretested questionnaires. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the relationship between the UP and independent variables.
Results
Of the pregnant women, 202 (34.8%) (95% CI: 30.9–38.7) participants had an unintended current pregnancy; of those 144 (24.8%) were mistimed pregnancies. Women aged 24 years were three times more likely to have an unintended pregnancy than those aged 35 years. Divorced and widowed women were four times more likely than women who were currently married to experience an unintended pregnancy. Gravidity 1–2 and 3–4 were 94% and 86% less likely than gravidity > 5 to experience an unintended pregnancy, and women who made family planning decisions on their own were less likely to have an unintended pregnancy.
Conclusion
According to this study, the prevalence of unintended pregnancy was 34.8% and unintended pregnancy was significantly correlated with women’s age, marital status, gravidity and who made decisions on family planning. There is an obvious need to devise communication strategies on fertility and contraceptive issues between couples through peer education, and to encourage correct use of long-acting modern methods of family planning.
Abbreviations
CSA, Central Statistical Agency; DHS, Demographic and Health Survey; FMOH, Federal Ministry of Health; FP, family planning; IRRB, Institutional Research Review Board; MCH, maternal and child health; MDG, Millennium Development Goal; MMR, maternal mortality rate; NGO, non-governmental organization; SPSS, Statistical Package for Social Science; UP, unintended pregnancy; WHO, World Health Organization.
Data Sharing Statement
The data set used and analyzed for this study is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Ethical Standard
Prior to data collection, an Ethical clearance and approval letter was received from Health Research Ethics Review Committee (HRERC) of Debre Markos University, College of Health Sciences. Then the letter was sent to the governmental health institution in Debre Markos town and the respective area managers were informed about the purpose and deliverables of the research undertaking. Informed written consent was obtained from all pregnant women during data collection. Confidentiality was ensured by not writing the name of the respondents on the questionnaire. This study was done in accordance with the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki.
Acknowledgments
The researcher gratefully thanks Debre Markos University for funding this research. We would like also to thank Debre Markos town administration and health department for allowing us to conduct this research in the community. We highly acknowledge study participants for providing all necessary information, data collectors and Mr. Habtamu Chanie for editing and revision of the manuscript. Finally, I would like to say that God has put the soul of Mr. Habtamu Chanie in heaven and condolence to his families and friends.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest for this work.