title: Unintended pregnancy and associated risk factors among young pregnant women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess pregnancy intention and the associated risks among young pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a descriptive study, pregnant women aged 15-24 years were recruited at a prenatal clinic in Chiang Mai University Hospital, Thailand, between March 1, 2012, and February 28, 2013. Participants were interviewed by trained interviewers using a standardized questionnaire to elicit information about baseline characteristics, pregnancy intention, and contraception practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 250 participants were recruited (mean age 20.7±2.4 years), and 163 (65.2%) declared that the pregnancy was unintended. The odds of the pregnancy being unintended were increased in students (P=0.006), women aged 20 years or younger (P=0.024), and women whose partner was a similar age (P=0.026). A higher percentage of women with unintended pregnancy than with intended pregnancy reported having no time to use contraception, a perceived difficulty of regular contraceptive use, fear of parents finding out about sexual activity, and embarrassment about using contraception.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pregnancy among young pregnant women in Thailand was often unintended. Educational status, age, and age difference between the couple were independently associated with unintended pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Intira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sriprasert
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Somsak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaovisitsaree
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Narisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sribanditmongkhol
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Nuchanart
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sunthornlimsiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. Electronic address: kiet_ji@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Chumnan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kietpeerakool
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Contraception; Risk factors; Unintended pregnancy; Young women