Study of the Factors Leading to Unintended Pregnancy in Women in Kumasi, Ghana

Background: There are high levels of unintended pregnancy in low income countries. The aim of this research was to determine the immediate factors associated with unintended pregnancies in Kumasi, Ghana.

Methodology: A facility-based cross‐sectional study was carried out on four hundred and forty-two (442) women in selected health facilities (Maternal and Child Health Hospital (MCHH) and Marie Stopes International, Ghana (MSIG)) in the Kumasi business district from January to April, 2014. Data were collected using a pre‐tested structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using SPSS version 20. The following statistical analyses were conducted: frequencies, percentages, mean, standard deviation and bivariate analysis.

Results: The mean age was 25.4 years, 67% earned income but only 1/3 earned above the national minimum wage; 60% were unmarried and 55% had below high school education. The mean gestational age at presentation was 16 weeks (±10.7). A statistical association was observed between the use of contraceptives (p-value = 0.037), marital status (p-value= 0.048) and pregnancy.

Conclusion: There are still high levels of unintended pregnancy mainly caused by the non-use of contraceptives. More education is therefore needed on the benefits of contraceptives and the dangers of unintended pregnancy. Further studies are also required to confirm the high contraceptive failure rate and thus innovative ways of improving contraceptives uptake instituted.