A longitudinal study of unplanned pregnancy in a maternity hospital setting. Issue 2 (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McKeating, Aoife; Crosby, David A.; Collins, Martha; O'Higgins, Amy; McMahon, Léan; Turner, Michael J.
• Is Part Of: International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics. Volume 128:Issue 2(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 106
• Page End: 109
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Gynecology -- Periodicals; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 618
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2014.08.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7292

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="ab0005"> <title id="st0005">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="st0010">Objective</title> <p id="sp0005">To review family planning in a cohort of women who delivered a second child within 3 years of their first.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0015">Methods</title> <p id="sp0010">A longitudinal, observational study included women aged at least 18 years who had delivered a singleton weighing at least 500 g in 2009 after their first pregnancy at a hospital in Dublin, Ireland, and who returned to the hospital for prenatal care for a second pregnancy before January 2012. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the effect of maternal characteristics on pregnancy intention.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0020">Results</title> <p id="sp0015">Of 3284 primigravidas who delivered in 2009, 1220 (37.1%) returned with a second pregnancy. The second pregnancy was unplanned in 248 (20.3%) women, and both pregnancies were unplanned in 124 (10.2%). The second pregnancy was more likely to be unplanned in women whose first pregnancy was also unplanned than in those whose first was planned (adjusted odds ratio 6.5; 95% confidence interval 4.6–8.4; <italic>P</italic> < 0.001). Among the 99 women with recurrent unplanned pregnancy who had not been using contraception before the first pregnancy, 85 (85.9%) were also not using contraception before the second.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="st0025">Conclusion</title> <p id="sp0020">Women whose first pregnancy is unplanned are at increased risk of subsequent unplanned pregnancies. Postnatal contraceptive advice in this high-risk group should be prioritized.</p> </sec> </abstract>