The epidemiology of unplanned pregnancies in North-Central Trinidad

OBJECTIVE: to investigate the epidemiology of unplanned pregnancies in North-Central Trinidad and to evaluate the effect of level of education, marital status, religion, ethnicity, economics, and socioeconomic factors on the use of contraceptives in the society. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and May 2007 at four primary health care facilities in Trinidad using a de novo pilot-tested questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the 172 participants, 103 had unplanned pregnancies (64.0%). Of all unplanned pregnancies, 60.8% were due to lack of contraceptive use, 30% to failure of the contraceptives despite proper use, and 10% to misuse. The only notable association with unplanned pregnancies was having a prior unplanned pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of unplanned pregnancies was related to the effects of contraception, home ownership, and prior unplanned pregnancies.