Reproductive health and neonatal consequences of unintended childbearing among Saudi women

Abstract

Background: The incidence of unintended pregnancy is among the most essential health status indicators in the field of reproductive health. Women who have an unintended pregnancy are also at risk for unintended childbearing, which is associated with a number of adverse maternal behaviors and child health outcomes, including inadequate or delayed initiation of prenatal care, smoking and drinking during pregnancy, premature birth, and lack of breastfeeding, as well as negative physical and mental health effects on children.

Aim of the study: The aim of the study is to identify the factors associated with unintended pregnancy and the neonatal outcomes of unintended pregnancy among Saudi women.

Method: A comparative study conducted at two hospitals in Riyadh city. A non-probability convenient sample of 99 Saudi post-partum women age between (17 - 37) years and above, planned & unplanned pregnant women. A Structured interviewing questionnaire developed to collect data related to: Socio-Demographic characteristics, Reproductive Health and Pregnancy outcomes.

Results: Unexpected result is that women with one child more frequently  among women with unplanned pregnancies (10.1%) and less among women with planned pregnancies (5.1%), while women with two children more frequently among women with unplanned pregnancies  (71%), and less for women with planned pregnancies  (4.0%). There were no statistically significant differences between planned and unplanned pregnancies in the percentages of Number of antenatal care visits, live births and stillbirths, newborn birth weight  or preterm births.

Conclusion\recommendations: Reproductive health behaviors are threatening for maternal, and newborn especially in regard to antenatal follow-up awareness.