Journal of Reproductive Health and Contraception

Abstract

Introduction: Unintended pregnancies are pregnancies that are mistimed, unplanned or unwanted at the time of conception. Many adolescent girls become pregnant and have children before they are physically, emotionally, and socially mature enough to be mothers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess unintended pregnancy and associated factors among high school students in Bahir dar town.
Objective of the study: This study was aimed at Assessment of unwanted pregnancy and associated factors among female regular students in selected governmental preparatory high schools (grade 11th&12th), in Bahir dar city, North West Ethiopia in 2018.
Methodology: An institutional based cross -sectional study was conducted in 3 randomly selected governmental preparatory high schools using simple Radom sampling between Dec. 01_30, 2018. Structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The collected data were coded, entered and analyzed using SPSS software version 20. Frequencies and mean were used to describe the study participants in relation to their relevant variables and X2 test was computed to look associated factors.
Results: The proportion of pregnancy from total of (273) studied students was 39 (14.3%). The proportion of unwanted pregnancy from total of 39 pregnancies, were 26(66.7%). In this study, age of students, place of residence, branch of study, income, grade, family planning, marital status and age 1st menses seen were significantly associated with unwanted pregnancy (p-value<0.05).
Conclusion and Recommendations: proportion of unintended pregnancy was high and age of students, place of residence, branch of study, income, grade, family planning, marital status and age 1st menses seen were significantly associated with unwanted pregnancy. It would better if the responsible bodies focus on to open and give youth friendly service, to address sexual and reproductive health problems specifically to prevent unintended pregnancy.