PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATION OF UNWANTED PREGNANCY
Logically, pregnancy that is not intended will result in poorer outcome. Unwanted pregnancy is associated with various negative consequences not only to the women, but also to the baby/children and society in general. The unwanted pregnancy will ended with unwanted birth, abortion or miscarriages. For unwanted birth, the consequences including delayed prenatal care, poor maternal mental health, obstetric complication, reduce mother-child relationship quality and poor development outcomes for children( U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2020 Topics and Objectives: Family Planning. Accessed 06/23/11).
INDIVIDUAL
1) Prenatal and Perinatal Outcome
a) Delayed prenatal care
In achieving the MDG goal on reducing child mortality and improving maternal health, antenatal care is recognized as one of the crucial factor. Through effective antenatal care, health outcomes of the women and children can be improved by proper maternal nutrition, risk assessment and management of the mother, and utilization of current technology and facilities for emergency obstetric care. Mother also can be advised to stop smoking and consuming alcohol during antenatal care. However, women with unwanted pregnancy tend to delay seeking prenatal care. As unwanted pregnancy is defined as being mistimed or unwanted at the time of conception, women with unwanted pregnancy had greater exposure to cigarette smoking, drinking alcohol and taking prohibited drugs. They also were less likely to take folic acid.
A number of studies have been conducted to assess the association between antenatal care and intention of pregnancy. In a systematic review done by Yohannes Dibaba et al, there is increased odds of delayed antenatal care use among women with unwanted pregnancies as compared to women with wanted pregnancies. (The effects of pregnancy intention on the use of antenatal care services: systematic review and...