title: Exploring the relationship between socioeconomic factors, method of contraception and unintended pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is estimated that approximately one-third of pregnancies in Canada are unintended, meaning they were either mistimed (the woman wanted to be pregnant at a different point in time) or undesired (the woman did not want to be pregnant). This study aimed to assess the impact of socioeconomic variables and method of contraception on the decision to either terminate or continue and unintended pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from two contemporaneous studies in Calgary Canada--a cross-sectional study involving women seeking abortion services (n = 577) and a longitudinal cohort study involving women with continuing pregnancies (n = 3552) between 2008 and 2012. Chi square tests and logistic regression were used to examine the association between socioeconomic variables, use of contraception and pregnancy intention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  96.5% of women seeking an abortion and 19.6% of women with ongoing pregnancies reported having an unintended pregnancy. Women with unintended pregnancies were significantly younger (p < 0.001), less educated (p < 0.001), had a lower household income (p < 0.001), were less likely to be in a stable relationship (p < 0.001), and less likely to speak English in the home (p < 0.002). 20.2% reported not using any form of birth control despite their desire to not get pregnant. Among women with unintended pregnancies, the only significant demographic predictor of not using any form of contraception was low educational attainment (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.2-2.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low educational attainment was associated with not using any form of contraception among women with unintended pregnancies. However, as unintended pregnancy occurs across all socio-demographic groups, care providers are encouraged to have an open discussion regarding fertility goals and contraception with all patients and refer them to appropriate resource materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, 4th Floor North Tower 1403 29 St, NW Calgary, Alberta, T2N 2T9, Canada. amy.metcalfe@albertahealthservices.ca.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Metcalfe
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine and Primary Care, University of Calgary, Research Office, G012, Health Sciences Centre 3330 Hospital Drive, NW Calgary, T2N 4N1, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talavlikar
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine and Primary Care, University of Calgary, Research Office, G012, Health Sciences Centre 3330 Hospital Drive, NW Calgary, T2N 4N1, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: du Prey
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, 2888 Shaganappi Trail, N.W. Calgary, Alberta, T3B 6A8, Canada.|Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N, Canada.
authors.forename: Suzanne C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Tough
mesh_terms: D000029:Abortion, Legal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000416:Alberta; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted; D011446:Prospective Studies; D043762:Reproductive Behavior; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Contraception; Pregnancy; Socio-economic status; Unintended pregnancy