Prevalence of Unintended Pregnancies and Associated Risk Factors among Iraqi Women in Babylon

Abstract

"Background: The implications of unwanted pregnancy are significant, placing considerable difficulties on children, women, men, and families. A woman experiencing an unwanted pregnancy is less inclined to pursue early prenatal care and is more prone to expose the fetus to detrimental chemicals, such tobacco or medicine.
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of unintended pregnancy, and to identify some of the factors that may be associated with unintended pregnancy.
Patients and method: a cross-sectional study with analytic elements. The study was conducted from the 15th July2025 to the 28th February. A multistage sampling approach was used. All hospitals in Babylon health directorate were stratified into two groups according to location: central and peripheral hospitals.one hospital was chosen from each stratum using simple random sampling. An equal number of participants were allocated to each of the selected hospitals (Babil teaching hospital for obstetrics and pediatrics, Al-Zahraa hospital for obstetrics).
Results: the majorities of them were in the age between 20-35 years old (69.7%), and the mean age of the studied group was (30.36+7.145) years old. (86.0%) have 1st pregnancy in the age between 20-35 years old, (23.6%) reported an unintended pregnancy, unintended pregnancies were more frequent among women with higher parity.
Conclusion: The prevalence of unintended pregnancy in this study was 23.6% (mistimed 13.0%, unwanted 10.6%). There was significant association between unintended pregnancy and maternal age, maternal educational level, husband’s age and monthly family income."