UNINTENDED PREGNANCY AMONG WOMEN IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA: A CALL FOR UTILISATION OF MODERN CONTRACEPTION

Gift A.F Clement-Wekere, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital
Felix C.C. Wekere, Rivers State University

Unintended pregnancy is associated with adverse foetal, perinatal, maternal and reproductive health outcomes. It is one of the major consequences of high unmet need for family planning and of public health importance. Majority of the unintended pregnancies result in high rate of abortions and its sequalae. Over 21.6 annual rate of unintended pregnancies in sub-Saharan African, 38% result in abortion and its complications. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of unintended pregnancy and the outcomes among women in Rivers State (RS). This was a cross-sectional study carried out among women in RS. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to recruit study participant from the 3 senatorial districts of Rivers State, Nigeria. Data was collected using interviewer-administered questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 26.0 (Armonk, NY). Five hundred and forty women were recruited for the study, their mean age was 31.3 ± 5.8 95% confidence interval (CI) 30.8-31.8). One hundred and eighty-four (34.1%) had unintended pregnancy. The prevalence of abortion following unintended pregnancy was 16.3%. The rate of unintended pregnancy among women in Rivers State is high. Measures targeted at increasing the uptake of modern contraception would help to reduce the burden and improve maternal health.

Keywords: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

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