Journal of Women's Health Care
Open Access

Abstract

Prevalence of Unwanted Pregnancy and Associated Factors among Women in Reproductive Age Groups at Selected Health Facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Teshale Mulatu, Amsale Cherie and Lemma Negesa

Background: Unsafe abortions resulting from unintended pregnancies denote an important public health challenge throughout the world. Although various strategies have been used to address this problem unsafe abortion from unwanted pregnancy remained the cause for a significant number of maternal morbidity and mortality.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of unwanted pregnancies and factors associated with unwanted pregnancies.

Methodology: A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted to select randomly 349 women of reproductive age from five hospitals providing antenatal care in Addis Ababa. Data were collected using standardized pretested interviewer administered questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between the dependent and independent variables.

Result: A total of 333 reproductive age group females participated in the study making the response rate 95.4%. A total of 126 (37.8%) and 50 (39.6%) respondents had unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion at some point in their lives. Marital status and number of sexual partner were significantly associated with unwanted pregnancy with AOR [1.783 (1.036, 3.068), 11.355 (5.106, 25.253)] respectively.

Conclusion: The prevalence of unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion were high, and most of the induced abortion was the result of unwanted pregnancy. This study has implication that comprehensive approaches should be emphasized to increase awareness, access and use of family planning methods.