Prevalence and factors associated with unplanned pregnancy in a Brazilian capital in the Northeast

Abstract

Objectives: to analyze the prevalence and factors associated with unplanned pregnancy in a Brazilian capital in the Northeast. Methods: a cross-sectional study nested to a hospital birth cohort with a probable sample of 5,110 puerperal women. Associated factors were analyzed using a hierarchical theoretical model in three levels: distal (women’s socioeconomic and demographic characteristics), intermediate (reproductive characteristics, maternal habits and BMI), and proximal level (partner's characteristics). Multivariate Poisson regression analysis was performed. Results: the prevalence of unplanned pregnancy was 68.1% (CI95%=66.8-69.4). Multivariate analysis showed association with black skin color/race (PR=1.03; CI95%=1.01- 1.07), mother's age group up to 19 years old (PR=1.09; CI95%=1.06-1.12) and 20 to 24 years old (PR=1.04; CI95%=1.01-1.07), not living with partner (PR=1.09; CI95%=1.07- 1.11), highest number of people in the household: 5 people (PR= 1.10; CI95%=1.08-1.13) and 3 to 4 (PR=1.08; CI95%=1.05-1.10), number of ≥4 children (PR=1.09; CI95%=1.06- 1.13) and 2 or 3 children (PR=1.03; CI95%=1.02-1.05), alcohol consumption (PR=1.03; CI95%=1.01-1.05), malnourished pre-pregnancy BMI (PR=1.03; CI95%=1.01-1.06) and partner’s low schooling (5 to 8 years) (PR=1.03; CI95%=1.01-1.07). Prior abortion was inversely associated with planned pregnancy (PR=0.95; CI95%=0.93-0.97). Conclusions: the prevalence of unplanned pregnancy was high and was associated with socioeconomic and demographic characteristics that reflect on the combination of the complex inequalities that impact women and their partners

Unplanned pregnancy in the extreme South of Brazil: prevalence, trends, and associated factors

“…Black mothers also showed a higher PR for not planning the pregnancy, confirming a similar finding in other studies 9,15,24,28,29 . Besides the factors already mentioned, Black mothers struggle more in accessing health services that are often insufficient and have inadequate quality [28][29][30][31] .…”

“…The mean prevalence of 63.3% of non-planning observed in these surveys is similar to that observed in the baseline of the 1993 Pelotas cohort (62.7%), slightly lower than in 2004 (65.9%), but higher than the 2015 rate (52.2%) 10 . In São Luís, Maranhão, this prevalence reached 68.1% in 2010 24 , while it was 53.8% in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 25 . In Brazil, a hospital-based study conducted between 2011-12 found a prevalence of non-pregnancy planning of 55.4% 9 , while a survey conducted in 2020 in eight university hospitals identified 67.5% 12 .…”

“…This pattern was also identified in other studies. It can be attributed to a lack of knowledge about effective pregnancy prevention methods, immaturity, difficulty accessing safe contraceptive methods, concern about the side effects of their use, carelessness, or disinterest [9][10][11][12]15,[24][25][26][27] .…”

“…Not having a partner was a risk factor for unplanned pregnancy. Unstable relationships, even with the same partner, hinder the continued use of contraceptive methods, which increases exposure to pregnancy 5,24 . In Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, the odds ratio for not planning a pregnancy among women without a partner was 7.56 (95%CI: 5.98-9.56) times higher than the others 25 .…”

Modelo lógico do projeto CRIA (Cultivate and Raise Infancy Awareness

“…Modelo lógico do projeto CRIA (Cultivate and Raise Infancy Awareness) ao uso de tabaco, álcool e outras drogas (Pereira et al, 2010). A dificuldade de acesso aos métodos contraceptivos por falta de educação sexual (Costa et al, 2021;Prietsch et al, 2011). O contágio de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis (Santos et al, 2020).…”