American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 199, Issue 5 , Pages 517.e1-517.e7, November 2008

Is a previous unplanned pregnancy a risk factor for a subsequent unplanned pregnancy?

  • Lindsay M. Kuroki, BA

      Affiliations

    • Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI
    • ,
  • Jenifer E. Allsworth, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Clinical Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
    • ,
  • Colleen A. Redding, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Cancer Prevention Research Center, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
    • ,
  • Jeffrey D. Blume, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Center for Statistical Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI
    • ,
  • Jeffrey F. Peipert, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Clinical Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprints: Jeffrey F. Peipert, MD, PhD, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, Division of Clinical Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Campus Box 8219, 4533 Clayton Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110-1094

Received 22 August 2007; received in revised form 11 December 2007; accepted 21 March 2008. published online 12 May 2008.

Objective

The objective of the study was to determine whether a history of unplanned pregnancy was a risk factor for a subsequent unplanned pregnancy.

Study Design

We analyzed 542 women aged 14-35 years, enrolled in Project PROTECT, a randomized clinical trial to promote dual-method contraception use to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancy. Predictors of unplanned pregnancy were assessed by comparing women with and without a history of unplanned pregnancy.

Results

More than 1 in 5 women (22.5%) experienced an unintended pregnancy. History of an unintended pregnancy was a predictor of unintended pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio, 1.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-3.34). Other factors that were significantly associated with unplanned pregnancy included young age and low educational status.

Conclusions

Future efforts should focus on bridging the gap between identifying risk factors for unplanned pregnancy and interventions aimed at reducing the incidence in high-risk groups.

Key words: contraception, risk factors, unintended pregnancy

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 30.00 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

 Cite this article as: Kuroki LM, Allsworth JE, Redding CA, et al. Is a previous unplanned pregnancy a risk factor for a subsequent unplanned pregnancy? Am J Obstet Gynecol 2008;199:517.e1-517.e7.

 This study was supported by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Grant R01-HD36663; National Institutes of Health Grant K24 HD01298; the Midcareer Investigator Award in Women's Health Research from the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development; and the Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine Predoctoral Interdisciplinary Clinical Research Training Program from the National Institutes of Health (T32 RR023255).

PII: S0002-9378(08)00344-X

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2008.03.049

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 199, Issue 5 , Pages 517.e1-517.e7, November 2008

Article Tools