Factors associated with unintended pregnancy in Ethiopia; further analysis of the 2016 Ethiopian demographic health survey data

Abstract

Background Unintended pregnancy an important public health problem in Ethiopia. It is associated with adverse physical, mental, social and economic outcomes. Identifying factors associated with unintended pregnancy may help to reduce unintended pregnancy and hence adverse outcomes. There are few studies about the prevalence and associated factors of unintended pregnancy in Ethiopia. But these studies were based on small sample size and fragmented. Therefore, this analysis was done to identify factors associated with unintended pregnancy in Ethiopia based on nationally representative data. Methods The study used the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data. The data was downloaded from The DHS program with permission. A total of 1135 women were included in the final model. Data was weighted to consider disproportionate sampling and non-response. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with unintended pregnancy among women. Result About 30% (95% CI: 25.33–34.39) pregnancies were unintended. Married women (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR); 0.34; 95% CI: (0.01–0.14), woman living in developing regions AOR; 0.14; 95% CI: (0.07–0.27) and women who reported distance was not a big problem to get medical care AOR; 0.59; 95% CI: (0.36–0.99) had lower odds of unintended pregnancy. On the other hand, multiparous AOR; 3.77; 95% CI: (1.71–8.33), grand multiparous AOR; 6.72; 95% CI: (2.74–16.49) women and women who ever used contraceptives AOR; 1.86 95% CI: (1.06–3.26) had higher odds of unintended pregnancy. Conclusion Although high, the magnitude of unintended pregnancy in Ethiopia was lower compared to the global level. Marital status, region, perceived distance to seek medical care, parity and history of contraceptive use were found significant predictors of unintended pregnancy in Ethiopia.

Spatial patterns and predictors of unintended pregnancy among reproductive age women in Ethiopia

“…According to the study, Ethiopia’s country-wide prevalence of unintended pregnancy was around 29.49%. The finding of this study was similar with the studies in Ethiopia [ 31 , 32 ] but higher than the results of the studies conducted in Ethiopia [ 33 – 35 ]. The reason for this difference may be that this study includes women aged 15–49 years while other studies [ 33 , 35 , 36 ] only used youth women (15–24 years).This prevalence was higher than the finding conducted in Ethiopia [ 35 ] but lower than in Ghana [ 36 ], Malawi [ 37 ], and the Democratic Republic of Congo [ 38 ].…”

Determinants of change in unintended pregnancy in Ethiopia using the 2005 and 2016 EDHS: non-linear multivariable decomposition analysis

“…Unequal distribution of the effect of coefficient of distance from health facilities (perceived as not a big problem) contributed positively (i.e., 10% rise) to the prevalence of unintended pregnancy. This finding is supported by studies carried out in Ethiopia [ 35 – 37 ]. This might be justified through, women who reported the distance to proximate health facilities as not big problem are expected to have easy access to family planning and to have good knowledge of other reproductive health-related counseling services [ 38 ].…”

Sexual violence as a predictor of unintended pregnancy among married women of India: evidence from the fourth round of the National Family Health Survey (2015–16)

“…Though the prevalence of sexual IPV increases with the age of the women, protection against unintended pregnancies can be attributed to better knowledge and control over contraceptives and the desire to start a family in middle age groups [30]. Previous studies have also shown parity as a predictor of unintended pregnancy [31,32]. We argue that women who have never had a child may desire children and, whereas those who may already have had their desired number of children can consider some pregnancies as unwanted.…”