The value of a registry negative urine pregnancy test for the prediction of a future unintended pregnancy among young women

Abstract

Background: Performance of urine pregnancy test in general adolescents’ clinic reflects caregiver or woman’s concern that there might be a pregnancy. We aimed to assess whether young-unmarried women in whom a negative urine pregnancy test was registered would be at increased risk of a future unintended pregnancy.

Methods: The study cohort included consecutive women drafted by the Israeli military between 2013 and 2015. The risk of unintended pregnancy was compared between women with a negative urine pregnancy test (n = 2774), the study group, and those in whom urine pregnancy test was not carried out (n = 126,659), the control group.

Results: During the study period, 2147 (1.7%) women experienced an unintended pregnancy. The risk of unintended pregnancy was significantly higher in patients in whom a past pregnancy test was negative 4.3% (n = 118), as compared with the control group 1.6% (n = 2028) (odds ratio [OR], 2.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.23–3.26). In multivariate analysis history of a negative pregnancy test results was an independent predictor for a future unintended pregnancy (adjusted OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.63–2.52).

Conclusions: A history of a negative pregnancy test among young conscripted women is a significant risk indicator for a future unintended pregnancy. Directed efforts should be made in this particular vulnerable group of patients.

摘要

背景：一般来说青少年诊所尿妊娠试验的结果反映了监护人或妇女对怀孕可能性的担忧。我们的目的是评估年轻的已婚女性, 如果所登记的尿HCG结果呈阴性, 未来意外怀孕的风险是否会增加。

方法：研究队列包括2013年至2015年间以色列军方连续征召入伍的女性。对照组未进行尿妊娠试验（n = 126659）妇女与对照组尿妊娠试验阴性（n = 2774）妇女发生意外怀孕的风险进行比较。

结果：在研究期间, 2147名（1.7%）女性意外怀孕。既往妊娠试验结果为阴性4.3% （n = 118）的女性发生意外妊娠的风险显著高于对照组1.6% （n = 2028）（OR, 2.7；95% CI, 2.23-3.26）。在多因素分析中, 既往尿妊娠试验结果阴性的病史是未来发生意外妊娠的独立预测因子（调整OR, 2.0；95% CI, 1.63 = 2.52）。

结论：年轻被征召入伍女性的既往尿妊娠实验结果阴性史是未来发生意外怀孕的重要风险指标。应针对这一特殊的易受伤害患者群体作出有针对性的努力。

Keywords:

• Adolescent pregnancy
• military personnel
• unintended pregnancy
• urine b-HCG

Acknowledgements

We thank Cathy Hammerman, M.D., for the critical appraisal of the manuscript and English editing.

Disclosure of statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.