The epidemiology of unplanned pregnancies in North-Central Trinidad.
OBJECTIVE
to investigate the epidemiology of unplanned pregnancies in North-Central Trinidad and to evaluate the effect of level of education, marital status, religion, ethnicity, economics, and socioeconomic factors on the use of contraceptives in the society.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and May 2007 at four primary health care facilities in Trinidad using a de novo pilot-tested questionnaire.


RESULTS
Of the 172 participants, 103 had unplanned pregnancies (64.0%). Of all unplanned pregnancies, 60.8% were due to lack of contraceptive use, 30% to failure of the contraceptives despite proper use, and 10% to misuse. The only notable association with unplanned pregnancies was having a prior unplanned pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
The high prevalence of unplanned pregnancies was related to the effects of contraception, home ownership, and prior unplanned pregnancies.
Ali
Sanah
S
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Mt Hope, Trinidad.
Mohammed
Saleema
S
Mungrue
Kameel
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D003267:Contraception / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult