Reproductive outcomes following contraceptive discontinuation for method-related reasons: An analysis of 49 Demographic and Health Surveys

Abstract

Contraceptive discontinuation for method-related reasons is a common experience in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and may heighten women’s risk of unintended pregnancy. Few studies have provided a comprehensive assessment of reproductive outcomes following contraceptive discontinuation in LMICs over the last decade. Using cross-sectional data from 49 Demographic and Health Surveys, we applied competing risks estimation to calculate monthly probabilities of contraceptive resumption and pregnancy over a 12-month period among pooled, regional, and country-specific samples of women who discontinued contraception for method-related reasons (corresponding to 174,726 episodes of discontinuation). We also examined the pregnancy intention status of births/current pregnancies among those who became pregnant in the 12 months following contraceptive discontinuation for method-related reasons. In the pooled sample, the three-month probability of pregnancy and resumption of contraceptive use was 12% and 47%, respectively; by 12 months these probabilities increased to 22% and 55%, respectively. Country-specific analyses show that the probabilities of resuming contraception by three months ranged from 15% in Liberia, Mali, and Sierra Leone to 85% in Bangladesh. On average, the majority of pregnancies/births that occured following discontinuation for method-related reasons were subsequently reported as unintended. However, reports varied depending on when women became pregnant within the 12 months following discontinuation. Our findings suggest the need for more nuanced measures of contraceptive use dynamics—including measures that distinguish between women who resume use of contraception from women who remain at risk of pregnancy in the short period after discontinuation—to better inform specific policies and interventions, particularly aimed at those who remain at risk of pregnancy.