Determinants of Unintended Pregnancy among Youth at Fuoni Health Center Urban West Zanzibar

Abstract

Background: Unintended pregnancy is defined as the pregnancy either mistimed or unwanted pregnancy at the time of conception. Women change behaviors at the period of antenatal to postnatal as well as increase the morbidity and mortality rates. Unintended pregnancy has been associated with the failure of contraceptive use and unmet need for family planning. The youth is a transitional period from childhood to adulthood between the ages of 15-24 year, where physical and mentally are still immature. Youth are more susceptible to unwanted pregnancy, which can lead them to induced abortion and increase number of morbidity and maternal mortality rate. Objective: To assess the determinants of unintended pregnancy among Youth at Fuoni Health Center Zanzibar. Specifically, the study was trying to examine the factors like social demographic characteristics and contraceptive knowledge and uses. Methodology: The study was descriptive cross-sectional design. Design simply Characterized by descriptive survey where the participant filling the questionnaire. It was conducted at fuoni Health Center involved pregnant youth between the ages of 15 -24years visited ANC at Fuoni Health Center. All respondents provided written consent. Result: The majority of respondent revealed that 97.8% were Muslim and had started sexual intercourse in the age of 19-20 years (55.6%) of respondents were unplanned pregnancy among of the group age of 20-24years were in the group of two or more children. Also about 94(52.20%) of women attended at facility had planned pregnancy while 86(47.80%) had unplanned pregnancy. Out of 94 (52.2%) p -value 0.025 of respondent were found to have more likelihood having unintended pregnancies. Conclusion: Age between 20-24 years were found have high likelihood of having unintended pregnancy. Most reasons of getting unintended pregnancy were incorrectly use of contraceptive methods, have no decision making power in their marriage. Recommendations; Local Government leaders have to plan small groups in their society to provide health education concern on uses of family planning.