Authors : Alphonce Oyamo Mwango; Sarah Akinyi; Annette J. Otin; Lydia Minwa; Justinah Maluni; Charles Lwanga

Volume/Issue : Volume 6 - 2021, Issue 6 - June

Google Scholar : http://bitly.ws/9nMw

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Abstract : Despite the expanded coverage of contraception use in Kenya, unintended pregnancies form a significant part of public health concerns and is one of the crucial obstacles in Kenya among reproductive women. The main objective of this study was to explore the socio-economic, demographic, and economic factors associated with unintended pregnancies in Kenya. Methodology: The study drew data from householdbased secondary cross-sectional data from Kenya Demographic and Health Survey. The study used descriptive statistics to explore data on unintended pregnancies. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to examine the association between unintended pregnancies among pregnant women in Kenya. Results: The study found out that unintended pregnancies among women had an association with the obstetric history, socio-economic and demographic characteristics of pregnant women in Kenya, whereby age, marital status, area of residence, education level, wealth quintile, employment status of the pregnant women and whether or not the last birth was a caesarean section, was highly associated with unintended pregnancies at 95% confidence level. Conclusion: According to the study findings, there is need for the Government and the stakeholders in the reproductive health sector to come up with innovative ways to ensure that women have better access to reproductive health education, which reduce the high rate of unintended pregnancies and risky behaviours among women of the reproductive age. Moreover, counselling and assessment of modern contraceptive methods should also be improved. The study also recommends future qualitative research on women’s opinions on why they would have unintended pregnancies.

Keywords : Determinants, Unintended, Pregnancy, Women, Kenya