Determinants of unintended pregnancies among currently married women in Uganda
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Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
Abstract
Unintended pregnancies are no longer bound to teenagers or school-going children, married
women in Uganda, as well do experience such pregnancies though little has been investigated on them. This study
examines the determinants of unintended pregnancies among currently married women in Uganda.
Methods: In this study, we used data from the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) which
comprised of 10,958 married women aged 15–49 years who have ever been pregnant. The analysis was done using
descriptive analysis, logistic regression, and the generalized structural equation model.
Results: The study showed that 37% of pregnancies among married women were unintended. Young women,
living in poor households, staying in rural areas, women in the Eastern and Northern region, Muslim women, lack of
knowledge on ovulation period, discontinuation of contraceptives, non-use of and intention for contraceptives,
high age at sexual debut, high age at first birth, and high parity were directly associated with a higher risk of
unintended pregnancies. Relatedly, discontinuation of contraceptives regardless of the place of residence, region,
woman’s age, education, household wealth, access to family planning messages were associated with higher odds
of unintended pregnancies. Older women and those in rural areas who had more children were also at a higher
risk of similar pregnancies. However, having more children while using contraceptives, being educated, living in a
wealthier household, and having access to family planning messages significantly lowered the risk of unintended
pregnancies.
Conclusion: Increased access to family planning messages, empowering women as well as having improved
household incomes are key preventive measures of unintended pregnancies. There is a need to provide quality
contraceptive counseling through outreaches so that women are informed about the different contraceptive
methods and the possible side effects. Having a variety of contraceptive methods to choose from and making
them accessible and affordable will also encourage women to make informed choices and reduce contraceptive
discontinuation. All these coupled together will help women have their desired family sizes, increase the uptake of
contraceptives and significantly reduce unintended pregnancies.
Description
Keywords
Unintended pregnancies, Married women, Uganda
Citation
Wasswa, R., Kabagenyi, A., & Atuhaire, L. (2020). Determinants of unintended pregnancies among currently married women in Uganda. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 39(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-020-00218-7