Citation

Sriprasert I, Chaovisitsaree S, Sribanditmongkhol N, Sunthornlimsiri N, Kietpeerakool C. Int. J. Gynaecol. Obstet. 2014; 128(3): 228-231.

Affiliation

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. Electronic address: kiet_ji@hotmail.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ijgo.2014.09.004

PMID

25456969

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±2.4years), 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 20years 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.

CONCLUSION: 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.

Language: en