Journal of Research in Medical Sciences (Sep 2003)
PREVALENCE OF UNWANTED PREGNANCY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN ZAHEDAN-1999
Abstract
Introduction: Approximately one third of all the reported pregnancies in Iran and one fourth of them in the Sistan and Baluchistan province are unwanted. Finding its causes can help to detect problem solving ways. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and reasons of unwanted pregnancies. 560 women in 1999 who had referred to health and medical centers of Zahedan completed a questionnaire with interviews. Results: The result showed that 145 cases (25.6%) had unwanted pregnancies in ghose 415,3% and 565 were unwanted from the viewpoint of mother, father and both, respectively. 80% of them were used contraceptive of which 56% out of them was misused. They said, having enough children and short birth spacing were reasons that they interpreted their pregnancies as unwanted. They mentioned that essential causes of not using of contraceptives were breast-feeding and supposing that they could not become pregnant. 31% of them attempted to abortion. Prevalence of unwanted pregnancies had not related to religion and nationality. A higher rate of unwanted pregnancies was seen among illiterate women, their illiterate husband, higher age and having more children. Discussion: It can be concluded that women during breast-feeding and before menopause because of not using and misusing of contraceptive are subject to high risk of unwanted pregnancies. They must be considered as educational goal groups in consultations of health centers.
