Determinants of Unintended Pregnancy Among Women in Ecuador

This study examined determinants of unintended pregnancy in Ecuador. Data were obtained from 4534 recently pregnant women in the 1994 Demographic and Maternal-Child Health Survey. The sample is representative of the highland and coast regions. About 21% reported the recent pregnancy as unwanted; 18% reported it as mistimed. Weighted multivariate logistic regression revealed that residence was strongly associated with pregnancy intention. Rural women were 37% less likely than women from Quito or Guayaquil to have had an unwanted pregnancy. Rural women were 29% less likely than metropolitan women to have a mistimed pregnancy. Women from nonmetropolitan urban areas were 30% less likely than Quito and Guayaquil residents to have an unwanted pregnancy and 23% less likely to have a mistimed pregnancy. Women from the Sierra highland region were at very high risk of unintended pregnancy. Other high risk factors were parity and prior contraceptive use. Risk was lowered by rural residence high income and older age. Women with primary school were more likely to have a mistimed rather than a planned pregnancy. Women with no education were more likely to have an unwanted pregnancy. Experience with using a modern method was independently associated with the risk of unintended pregnancy.