prevalence of unintended pregnancies and its related demographic factors in hospitals of Yazd city -2008

ABSTRACT

Unintended pregnancies include unwanted pregnancies at least for one of couples. Totally, 33% [about 75 millions] of pregnancies Worldwide are unintended. Unintended pregnancies are considered a major cause of about 14 million deaths in under-5-years-old children per year. Infectious abortion following unwanted pregnancy is also one of the five major leading causes of maternal mortality. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and demographic related factors of unintended pregnancy in pregnant women referring to hospitals in Yazd city. In this cross-sectional study, 330 pregnant women referring to hospitals of Yazd in September and October 2008 were studied. Data were collected by interview using a valid and reliable questionnaire. Data were computerized and analyzed by SPSS 16 software. The prevalence of unwanted pregnancies in the women admitted to hospitals living in Yazd city was 22.9% and in the non-resident women in was 28.9%. There was a significant relationship between unintended pregnancy whait age and educational level of the couples, number of children, economic satisfaction, history of unintended pregnancy and opinion of the husband about family planning methods. Among women who had unwanted pregnancies 41.3% had used the withdrawal method to prevent pregnancy and condoms and pills had been used 20%, 16.3% respectively. According to the logistic regression statistical model, the factors affecting unwanted pregnancies was husband Literacy, number of children and the history of unwanted pregnancies. Due to a high prevalence of unintended pregnancy in this study, further investigations are suggested in this field in eluding revision in family planning programs as well as improving the education of all women especially high risk women about family planning methods and proper use of them and focusing on the participation of men