Prevalence of Unplanned Pregnancies and Their Associated Factors Among Antenatal Clinic Attendees in Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat Division, Colombo, Sri Lanka (Published)
Unplanned pregnancies are a major public health issue globally causing poor maternal and foetal outcomes. The objective is to to determine the prevalence of unplanned pregnancies & their associated factors among antenatal clinic attendees in Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat Division, Colombo, Sri Lanka.A cross-sectional study was conducted in three randomly selected antenatal clinics of the Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat Division of the Colombo Municipal Council. A total of 425 antenatal mothers were included in the study using a consecutive sampling method. Data collection was done using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Statistical analysis was done using the Chi-Square test, Odds Ratio and 95% confidence interval. The prevalence of unplanned pregnancies was 32.7% in the study population. The 95 % confidence interval was 28.26 – 37.39.Being married, the mother being employed in the preceding 12 months, the number of past conceptions being two or less & intake of folic acid before pregnancy had statistically significant associations with planned pregnancies at 95% confidence interval (p < 0.05).Marital age less than 20 years, highest education level of the mother being less than Grade 11, highest education level of the spouse being less than Grade 11, monthly household income of less than LKR 25,000, the interpregnancy interval of fewer than 24 months, using family planning practices in the past, never wanting or expecting the current pregnancy and not planning for another pregnancy had statistically significant associations with unplanned pregnancies at 95% confidence interval (p < 0.05).According to the study, one-third of the pregnancies were unplanned & a statistical significance at 95% confidence interval was seen between the planning status of the current pregnancy and twelve of the eighteen variables studied.
Keywords: Colombo, Factors, Sri Lanka, Thimbirigasyaya, antenatal clinic attendees, unplanned pregnancies