UNINTENDED PREGNANCY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES OF HARARI REGION, EASTERN ETHIOPIA, 2024

Abstract

Unintended pregnancy remains a significant public health issue worldwide, affecting nearly 48% of pregnancies annually. Contributing factors include Sociodemographic factors, reproductive factors, contraceptive knowledge and utilization and social and behavioural factors. However, there is a scarcity of regional data regarding the prevalence and associated factors of unintended pregnancy, particularly in Harari Region, Eastern Ethiopia. Objective: To determine the prevalence of unintended pregnancy and its associated factors among pregnant women attending public health facilities in Harari Region, Eastern Ethiopia, from October 1 to October 31, 2024. Method: This institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 499 randomly selected pregnant women attending public health facilities in Harari Region. Data were collected using a pretested, structured questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. The data were entered into Epidata version 4.6 and analysed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify associated factors. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated, with significance set at P-value <0.05. Result: 495 women participated, resulting in a 99.2% response rate. The prevalence of unintended pregnancy was 31.21% (95% CI: 26.23–35.65). Factors significantly associated with unintended pregnancy included: Unmarried women had higher adjusted odds of unintended pregnancy (AOR = 4.11, 95% CI: 1.10–7.22).Women dissatisfied with their marriages had higher odds of unintended pregnancies (AOR = 6.82, 95% CI: 1.90– 10.76).Women with shorter birth intervals had increased odds (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.12– 5.90).Having more children was associated with higher odds of unintended pregnancies (AOR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.22–6.34).Women whose last child was male had lower odds of unintended pregnancies (AOR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.33–0.83). Substance use was associated with higher odds of unintended pregnancies (AOR = 4.21, 95% CI: 1.98–6.87) Conclusion: Unintended pregnancy remains a significant public health issue with a prevalence of 31.21%.marital status, marital dissatisfaction, and short birth intervals, higher number of children, the sex of the last child, and substance use are significantly associated with unintended pregnancies.