Factors associated with unintended pregnancy among women attending a public health facility in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

Background: Across the globe a large proportion of pregnancies have been reported as unintended. There are no available reports from South Africa concerning the prevalence of unintended pregnancies. This study explored the prevalence of unintended pregnancies among South African women attending a public primary health care (PHC) clinic in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. It also investigated the relationship between demographic factors, contraceptive use, substance abuse and unintended pregnancy in this setting. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients (n = 328) attending a PHC clinic. Participants were recruited by convenience sampling. Women who attended the clinic on their first antenatal visit were invited to participate. Participants filled out questionnaires in either English or isiZulu. Association between pregnancy and categorical variables was assessed. Results: Participants were mostly single (89.9%; n = 267), unemployed (70.8%; n = 222) with a monthly income of less than R 1 500 per month (63.8%; n = 81). Two-thirds of the women (64.33%; n = 211) had unintended pregnancies. There was a significant relationship between marital status and unintended pregnancy. Women who were married or living with their partners were more likely to have planned their pregnancies as compared with those who were single or divorced. Unemployed women were more likely to have had unintended pregnancies. No other socio-demographic factors were linked to unintended pregnancy. Conclusion: It is concluded that in this population of South African women with low education levels and low income, the prevalence of unintended pregnancies is high. These unintended pregnancies are linked to single status as well as unemployment.

Unintended Pregnancy and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Bako Tibe District Public Health Facility, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

“…The prevalence of the unintended pregnancy observed in this study is in agreement with the ones found by studies conducted at Debre Markos (32.9%) and Addis Ababa (36.4%) [11][12][13][14]. But it is lower than the magnitudes reported from South Africa (64%), Nepal (54.5%), and Arsi zone (41%) [11][12][13]. This might be due to the difference in sample size, sociocultural characteristics, and health coverage of the study area, as well as the difference in the availability and accessibility of services (like access to modern contraceptives) for maternal health service in the countries.…”

“…The prevalence of the unintended pregnancy observed in this study is in agreement with the ones found by studies conducted at Debre Markos (32.9%) and Addis Ababa (36.4%) [11][12][13][14]. But it is lower than the magnitudes reported from South Africa (64%), Nepal (54.5%), and Arsi zone (41%) [11][12][13].…”

Prevalence and Determinants of Postpartum Depression in Sukoharjo District, Central Java

“…Efikasi diri ibu terkait kesehatan cenderung lebih rendah pada orangtua yang berpenghasilan rendah (Holland et al, 2011). Pendapatan keluarga rendah memiliki tingkat kehamilan yang tidak diinginkan lebih tinggi daripada keluarga yang memiliki pendapatan tinggi karena ibu yang memiliki pendapatan rendah jarang menggunakan alat kontrasepsi dan mengalami tingkat kegagalan kontrasepsi yang lebih tinggi (Haffejee et al, 2017). Orangtua yang memiliki pendapatan rendah akan mengkhawatirkan biaya yang dikeluarkan untuk makanan, kesehatan, pakaian dan biaya lainnya yang cukup besar.…”

Does unwanted pregnancy lead to adverse health and healthcare utilization for mother and child? Evidence from low- and middle-income countries

“…The proportion of unintended pregnancy was found to be specifically higher among younger women (aged 15-19 years old) compared to older women (Ikamari et al 2013). A pregnancy can be unintended for many reasons such as believing to have too many children already, no desire to have children at the moment, not having the financial resources available to support a new child, being in school, being unmarried, or the pregnancy might have been a result of incorrectly using or lack of access to contraceptives (Singh et al 2006;Haffejee et al 2018).…”