BackgroundEstimates of unplanned pregnancy worldwide are of concern, especially in low and middle-income countries, including Brazil. Although the contraceptive prevalence rate is high in Brazil, almost half of all pregnancies are reported as unintended. The only source of nationally representative data about pregnancy intention is the Demographic and Health Survey, as with many other countries. In more recent years, however, it has been realized that concept of unintended pregnancy is potentially more complex and requires more sophisticated measurement strategies, such as the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (LMUP). The LMUP has been translated and validated in other languages, but not Portuguese yet. In this study, we evaluate the psychometric properties of the LMUP in the Portuguese language, Brazilian version.MethodsA Brazilian Portuguese version of the LMUP was produced via translation and back-translation. After piloting, the mode of administration was changed from self-completion to interviewer-administration. The measure was field tested with pregnant, postpartum, and postabortion women recruited at maternity and primary health care services in Sao Paulo city. Reliability (internal consistency) was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and item-total correlations. Construct validity was assessed using principal components analysis and hypothesis testing. Scaling was assessed with Mokken analysis.Results759 women aged 15–44 completed the Brazilian Portuguese LMUP. There were no missing data. The measure was acceptable and well targeted. Reliability testing demonstrated good internal consistency (alpha = 0.81, all item-rest correlations >0.2). Validity testing confirmed that the measure was unidimensional and that all hypotheses were met: there were lower LMUP median scores among women in the extreme age groups (p < 0.001), among non-married women (p < 0.001) and those with lower educational attainment (p < 0.001). The Loevinger H coefficient was 0.60, indicating a strong scale.ConclusionThe Brazilian Portuguese LMUP is a valid and reliable measure of pregnancy planning/intention that is now available for use in Brazil. It represents a useful addition to the public health research and surveillance toolkit in Brazil.

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess preconception health behaviors among Brazilian women, and analyze the effect of pregnancy planning status in carrying out preconception measures. Method: This is a cross-sectional quantitative study conducted with 807 women, of whom 649 had a planned or ambivalent pregnancy. Preconception health behaviors were assessed by the Brazilian version of the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy. Results: Preconception health behaviors were performed by only 15.9% of women. Among those who planned their pregnancy, less than half completed a health measure (47.0%); the most common was seeking medical assistance and improving the diet. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed a strong association between the preconception health behaviors and a planned pregnancy (adjusted OR = 16.77; 95% CI: 9.47-29.81). Age over 30 years, paid work, and the time interval between menarche and first sexual intercourse were also associated with completing preconception measures. Conclusion: The low frequency of preconception health measures, even among women who planned their pregnancy, indicates the urgency of including preconception care on the agenda of public health policies in Brazil. descriPtOrs Preconception Care; Pregnancy; Sexual and Reproductive Health; Maternal-Child Nursing. Preconception health behaviors associated with pregnancy planning status among Brazilian womenPreparo pré-concepcional entre mulheres brasileiras e a relação com o planejamento da gravidez Preparación pre concepcional entre mujeres brasileñas y la relación con la planificación del embarazo

Objective: To identify determinants of preconception preparation among women with planned pregnancies. Method: A cross-sectional study with a probabilistic sample of 264 women between 18 and 49 years of age who had or were undergoing planned pregnancies, and were users of two School Health Centers in the city of São Paulo. Analysis was conducted through univariate and multiple logistic regression of three variable blocks: 1) social and demographic characteristics; 2) sexual and reproductive characteristics; 3) preexisting health conditions. Results: Women with higher education, belonging to economic groups A and B, and older women with infertility were more likely to perform preconception training. Conclusion: Preconception care has a strong social determination, as women with more favorable social profiles are more likely to perform it. Experience with infertility is also instrumental in the likelihood of preconception care.

Resumo Pouco se sabe sobre o uso da anticoncepção de emergência entre mulheres de diferentes regiões do país. Este estudo analisou o uso da anticoncepção de emergência e os aspectos associados, bem como o uso de métodos contraceptivos antes e após. Trata-se de estudo transversal, conduzido com 2.051 mulheres de 18-49 anos, usuárias de 76 Unidades Básicas de Saúde de São Paulo-SP, Aracaju-SE e Cuiabá-MT. Os aspectos associados ao uso da anticoncepção de emergência foram analisados por meio de regressão logística múltipla. Mais da metade das mulheres relatou já ter usado a anticoncepção de emergência (56,7%). Ter alta escolaridade, ser de grupo socioeconômico mais favorecido, ter trabalho remunerado e ter tido quatro ou mais parceiros sexuais associou-se com uso de anticoncepção de emergência. Ter 35 anos de idade ou mais e estar em união estável associou-se negativamente. Da última vez que usaram a anticoncepção de emergência, 53,2% usavam outro método, sendo preservativo masculino e pílula oral os mais frequentes. Das que não usavam método, metade adotou método regular após o uso (51,7%). Conclui-se que a anticoncepção de emergência é amplamente utilizada e parece não contribuir para interrupção do método contraceptivo de uso regular.

Conflitos de interesse: nada declarar. ResumoObjetivo: Analisar a vulnerabilidade a vivenciar uma gravidez não intencional entre mulheres usuárias de Unidades Básicas de Saúde e os aspectos associados.Métodos: Estudo transversal com 470 mulheres usuárias de Unidades Básicas de Saúde da Coordenadoria Regional de Saúde Leste do município de São Paulo. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas e utilizou-se regressão logística múltipla para analisar os aspectos associados.Resultados: Aproximadamente metade das mulheres mostrou estar vulnerável a vivenciar uma gravidez não intencional (48,3%). Mulheres na faixa etária de 25 a 34 anos tiveram mais chance de estar vulneráveis à gravidez não intencional comparadas às mulheres na faixa etária de 18 a 24 anos (OR=2,0; IC95% 1,2-3,4), tendo sido o mesmo observado em relação às mulheres com 35 anos de idade ou mais (OR=9,7; IC95% 5,3-17,6). As mulheres em união estável tiveram menos chance de estar vulneráveis a uma gravidez não intencional comparadas às mulheres solteiras (OR=0,4; IC95% 0,3-0,7). As mulheres que não planejaram a gravidez anterior tinham mais chance de estar vulnerável a uma gravidez não intencional comparadas às mulheres que planejaram a gravidez anterior (OR=2,5; IC95% 1,2-5,1), diferentemente das mulheres que nunca engravidaram (OR=0,4; IC95% 0,2-0,7).Conclusão: Uma parcela significativa de mulheres estava vulnerável a vivenciar uma gravidez não intencional. Os aspectos associados a vivenciar uma gravidez não intencional foram a idade, não estar em união estável e não ter planejado a última gravidez.