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Factors Influencing Unintended Pregnancies amongst Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Cambodia
Authors: Farwa Rizvi, Joanne Williams, and Elizabeth Hoban
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(20): 4006; DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16204006
Topic(s): Contraception
Maternal health
Reproductive health
Sexual health
Unintended pregnancy
Women's height
Women's status
Youth
Country: Asia
  Cambodia
Published: OCT 2019
Abstract: Background: Unintended pregnancies in Cambodian youth are a major reproductive health concern with detrimental personal and socioeconomic consequences. A social ecological model was used to identify sociodemographic factors potentially associated with unintended pregnancies, and an analysis of data from the 2014 Cambodian Demographic and Health Survey was used to determine associations. Methods: Weighted data were analysed using multiple logistic regression analyses for 3406 Cambodian sexually active single, in union or married females aged 15–29 years. Results: The prevalence of unintended pregnancy was 12.3%. Unintended pregnancy was significantly associated with younger age groups (15–24 years), multiparity, history of abortion, and current use of modern contraceptive methods. All women had an increased likelihood of unintended pregnancy when the husband alone or someone else in the household made decisions about their access to healthcare. Conclusion: The burden of unintended pregnancies is associated with young age, multiparity, history of abortions, unemployment, and low autonomy for accessing healthcare. Multi-pronged, holistic reproductive and sexual health program interventions are needed to increase literacy and accessibility to modern contraception and to raise awareness about women’s health and status in Cambodia. View Full-Text Keywords: adolescents; reproductive and sexual health; unintended pregnancies; contraception; women’s health; women’s status
Web: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/20/4006/htm