Prevalence and distribution of unintended pregnancy: the Understanding Fertility Management in Australia National Survey

Abstract

Objective: Mistimed, unexpected or unwanted pregnancies occur in Australia, despite widespread contraception use. The objective was to estimate prevalence and ascertain modifiable social factors for prevention of unintended pregnancy.Methods: National population-based survey of women and men aged 18-51 years recruited from a random sample of electors on the Australian Electoral Roll in 2013. Data were weighted to reduce non-response bias. Factors associated with unintended pregnancy were identified in multivariable analyses.Results: Data from 2,235 completed questionnaires were analysed (Women: 69%; Men: 31%). Of those ever pregnant or partner in pregnancy (59%), 40% had experienced an unintended pregnancy. Adjusting for other risks, ever having experienced sexual coercion (AOR, 95%CI=Women 1.948; 1.458-2.601; Men 1.657, 1.014-2.708); socioeconomic disadvantage (AOR, 95%CI=Women 1.808, 1.373, 2.381; Men 1.360, 1.004-1.841), living in a rural area (AOR, 95%CI=Women 1.403, 1.056-1.864; Men 1.583, 1.161-2.159), and for men being born overseas (AOR, 95%CI 1.989, 1.317-3.002) were significantly associated with unintended pregnancy. Conclusions:Experiences of sexual coercion, social disadvantage, rural residence and overseas birth are independently associated with unintended pregnancy in Australia.Implications: Public health policy and health service initiatives should prioritise prevention of sexual coercion, reduction of social inequality and reduction of geographic inequality for those in rural areas.

Mate preference priorities in the East and West: A cross‐cultural test of the mate preference priority model

“…Thus, it is hard to imagine a selection pressure to prioritize such a trait, unless used as an indirect signal of partner commitment and fidelity. Nonetheless, as contraception use is much more widespread in Western cultures (e.g., Monstad, Propper, & Salvanes, ; Rowe et al, ) than Eastern ones (e.g., Najimudeen & Sachchithanantham, ; Singh, Fong, & Loh, ), an interest in producing offspring may be a useful family planning cue in the West. Including these types of traits will allow us to observe how culturally variable preferences influence the prioritization of the more reproductively relevant ones.…”

Unintended Pregnancy in Iran: Prevalence and Risk Factors

“…Likewise, the prevalence was reported to be 23.5%-27.1% in Ethiopia (3,25), 35.9% in South-Western Nigeria (22), 27% among Canadian women (26), and 45% among married women in Kenya (16). Furthermore, the experience of one unintended pregnancy was 40% in Australia (27), and also only 44.4% of 4244 pregnancies were planned in Mchinji, Malawi District (28). In rural areas of India, unwanted and mistimed births were reported to be 27% and 12%, respectively (7).…”

Who moved my cheese?

“…[2][3][4][5] We saw how focusing on younger people and older people including mothers and children continues to improve the health life cycle from young to old. [8][9][10][11][12][13] Our first online open access Journal contained outstanding work in the area of Indigenous health. Systematic reviews by Gomersall and Hendrickx provided insight into the prevention and management of chronic diseases for Indigenous Australians and evidence that swimming pools improve health and welfare.…”