ABSTRACT
Introduction: A large number of pregnancies are unwanted which may cause tension, anxiety, and decreased quality of life. Reproductive behavior in unintended pregnancies can be a guide to improvement of women's mental health
Materials and Methods: Subjects included 400 women seen in maternity clinics of Mashhad hospitals. Subjects were interviewed using a questionnaire for reproductive behavior and adaptation with unwanted pregnancy, Chi-square test, t test and ANOVA were used
Results: Thirty-six percent of the subjects reported unwanted pregnancies. Mean age of subjects was 22 years [range 42-16 years]. In unwanted pregnancies, mean gestational age was 1.9 years and mean age at first pregnancy was 2.2 years more compared with those with wanted pregnancies, the average age of marriage 1.2 years less than and the average number of children was 1.1 higher than other group. Natural method was an important factor in unwanted pregnancies. At the end of pregnancy 83% of women who had unplanned pregnancy still were dissatisfied
Conclusion: Different reproductive behaviors were seen in unwanted pregnancies. Informing women of the high failure rate of natural method is an effective measure in reducing unwanted pregnancies. Because of the high prevalence of unwanted pregnancy and its effects on maternal mental health, use of screening tools for detection of psychopathology, counseling and psychological support for women in conjunction with routine care during pregnancy and postpartum seem necessary