Factors determining the occurrence of unwanted pregnancies.
BACKGROUND
We aimed to identify the factors involved in the occurrence of unwanted pregnancy in women seeking medical termination of pregnancy, and to describe their contraceptive practices.


METHODS
A descriptive interview-based study of 402 women seeking abortion was done. Information was gathered regarding demographic variables, contraceptive practices and reasons for the unwanted pregnancy.


RESULTS
All the women in our sample were married and multiparous. The husband's unwillingness for contraception and the improper use of condoms was responsible for one-third of all unwanted pregnancies. Lactation was believed to be a protection against pregnancy by 11.3% of women while 6.3% were unaware of any contraceptive method.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe that focusing on these areas in public health programmes will help to decrease the number of unwanted pregnancies.
Banerjee
N
N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India.
Sinha
A
A
Kriplani
A
A
Roy
K K
KK
Takkar
D
D
D000029:Abortion, Legal / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010298:Parity; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015980:Public Health Practice; D012307:Risk Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology