Abstract

CUERVO-VERGARA, Sergio Augusto; GARRIDO-GUTIERREZ, Jesús David; VELEZ-ALVAREZ, Gladys Adriana  and  ZULETA-TOBON, John Jairo. Association between knowledge of contraception and unplanned pregnancy: A cross-sectional study. Rev Colomb Obstet Ginecol [online]. 2015, vol.66, n.3, pp.160-170. ISSN 0034-7434.  https://doi.org/10.18597/rcog.21.

Objective: To measure the association between the degree of knowledge on how to solve problems associated with the use of contraceptive methods and the presence of unplanned pregnancies in women using short-acting contraception; to determine the prevalence of unplanned pregnancies; and to describe attitudes, perceptions and characteristics in relation to family planning activities. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional analytical study conducted in women between 14 and 49 years of age coming for a pregnancy test to a public, low-complexity healthcare institution in Medellín, Colombia, that provides care to a population covered under a state-subsidized healthcare system. Before delivering the result of the pregnancy test they were given a structured survey and a test to measure their knowledge for solving situations that might affect the effectiveness of contraception methods under the woman’s control. Results: Of the 471 women surveyed, 75.2 % were not planning to become pregnant and 57 % had an unplanned pregnancy. The median knowledge level was 50% (p25: 37.5%, p75: 62.5%). The prevalence ratio of unplanned pregnancy with an intermediate or high level of knowledge was 0.56 (95% CI 0.34-0.92). Conclusion: Knowledge about how to solve problems regarding contraceptive methods that depend for their effectiveness on the appropriate use by the woman is associated with a lower frequency of unplanned pregnancies.

Keywords : Unplanned pregnancy; family planning.

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