Factors affecting pregnancy registration in India: does the pregnancy intention matter?

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Maternal Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Pregnancy registration is crucial for accessing essential maternal healthcare services.
• Limited research exists on the link between pregnancy intention and registration, particularly in India.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between birth intention and the failure of pregnancy registration.
• To identify factors influencing pregnancy registration in the Indian population.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21).
• Employed bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses.

Main Results:

• Women with mistimed pregnancies had 1.60 times higher odds of registration failure.
• Women with unwanted pregnancies had 1.38 times higher odds of registration failure.
• Pregnancy intention was identified as a significant predictor of pregnancy registration.

Conclusions:

• Strengthening community health worker engagement is vital, especially for women with unintended pregnancies.
• Improving early and consistent pregnancy registration can enhance maternal healthcare use and reduce adverse outcomes.
• This study underscores the importance of aligning reproductive intentions with healthcare access for better maternal and child health outcomes.