Unintended pregnancies: a call for nursing action

Unintended pregnancies occur in all age groups and socioeconomic strata of our society and represent significant social, medical, and economic costs. Nearly 50% of all pregnancies in the United States are classified as unintended, and approximately 48% of all women ages 15 to 44 have experienced at least one unintended pregnancy. Contributors to unintended conceptions in the U.S. included barriers to accessing contraception, fears about using it, errors in use, and lack of back-up plans when errors in use occur. As important proponents of women's health, nurses are in an ideal position to address each of these contributors to unintended pregnancy through health promotion activities including patient education and counseling, through public policy advocacy, and through a commitment to a research agenda.