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Abstract
Unintended pregnancy is one that is either unwanted or mistimed, reflecting a complex interplay of reproductive intentions, contraceptive access and usage, sociocultural norms, and health system factors. Amidst concerns for and responsiveness to Population growth, Reproductive health care delivery and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3, Target 7 & 8 which emphasises that by the year 2030, it will ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes. This research thoroughly examines the multi-dimensional implications of the prevalence and the determinants of unintended pregnancies in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals in Edo South, Nigeria and probes the ways in which sexually active women utilize and meet their sexual, reproductive health-care needs and unmet needs within the research area
The study employed a dominant–less dominant mixed-method design (also called the explanatory design), in which the quantitative component drives the research process, while the qualitative component plays a supportive role (triangulation). The sample size was 1,006 women of reproductive age of which 44 percent of the respondents (pregnant women) representing 444 were selected from health facilities, while the remaining 56 percent are women (age 15 – 49 years) that is 562 from households. The primary sources of data were through the use of questionnaire and interview guide. This study also explored contraceptive use, accessibility to family planning services, the impacts of unintended pregnancy, and qualitative insights from health practitioners on barriers and strategies for family planning in Edo South, drawing on quantitative data and a reflexive thematic analysis of health facilitators’ responses. The stated hypotheses were tested using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Chi Square, Man-Whitney U Test, Kruskal Wallis Test, Multinomial Logistic Regression, Multivariate Logistics Regression and Inverse Distance Weight etc. ANOVA was used to test if there were statistically significant differences in the number of times respondent’s experienced unintended pregnancies across the various communities in Edo South. The result showed that there was a statistically significant difference in unintended pregnancy experiences between the groups, F(22, 179) = 2.051, p < .001. This suggests that the occurrence of unintended pregnancy varied meaningfully across the different communities studied.
The result of the findings established unintended pregnancy as a significant public health concern in the study area. It revealed that for every 100 respondents who had never experienced an unintended pregnancy, about 36 had, reflecting a prevalence consistent with global trends. It established that despite an overall contraceptive use rate, the disparity in the quality of awareness and method preference highlighted a critical gap: widespread awareness did not always translate to effective contraceptive practices. It showed critical insights into the depth of contraceptive knowledge, attitudinal barriers, and geographical disparities influencing reproductive health outcomes. Based on these findings; several actionable recommendations are presented to inform policy, program design, and service delivery. Some of the major challenges in this research include concealment of true experiences and fear of cultural and religious stigmatization.
The study employed a dominant–less dominant mixed-method design (also called the explanatory design), in which the quantitative component drives the research process, while the qualitative component plays a supportive role (triangulation). The sample size was 1,006 women of reproductive age of which 44 percent of the respondents (pregnant women) representing 444 were selected from health facilities, while the remaining 56 percent are women (age 15 – 49 years) that is 562 from households. The primary sources of data were through the use of questionnaire and interview guide. This study also explored contraceptive use, accessibility to family planning services, the impacts of unintended pregnancy, and qualitative insights from health practitioners on barriers and strategies for family planning in Edo South, drawing on quantitative data and a reflexive thematic analysis of health facilitators’ responses. The stated hypotheses were tested using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Chi Square, Man-Whitney U Test, Kruskal Wallis Test, Multinomial Logistic Regression, Multivariate Logistics Regression and Inverse Distance Weight etc. ANOVA was used to test if there were statistically significant differences in the number of times respondent’s experienced unintended pregnancies across the various communities in Edo South. The result showed that there was a statistically significant difference in unintended pregnancy experiences between the groups, F(22, 179) = 2.051, p < .001. This suggests that the occurrence of unintended pregnancy varied meaningfully across the different communities studied.
The result of the findings established unintended pregnancy as a significant public health concern in the study area. It revealed that for every 100 respondents who had never experienced an unintended pregnancy, about 36 had, reflecting a prevalence consistent with global trends. It established that despite an overall contraceptive use rate, the disparity in the quality of awareness and method preference highlighted a critical gap: widespread awareness did not always translate to effective contraceptive practices. It showed critical insights into the depth of contraceptive knowledge, attitudinal barriers, and geographical disparities influencing reproductive health outcomes. Based on these findings; several actionable recommendations are presented to inform policy, program design, and service delivery. Some of the major challenges in this research include concealment of true experiences and fear of cultural and religious stigmatization.
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