Using sequence analysis to visualize exposure to pregnancy in the postpartum period

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Maternal and Child Health
• Demography

Background:

• Postpartum period is a critical window for pregnancy exposure, influenced by sexual activity, menstruation, and contraception.
• Understanding these dynamics is crucial, especially in low-resource settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze patterns of postpartum pregnancy exposure using sequence and cluster analyses.
• To gain novel insights into women's reproductive behaviors in the year following childbirth in Ethiopia.

Main Methods:

• Utilized population-based data from 1,935 Ethiopian women.
• Applied sequence and cluster analyses to characterize reproductive behavior patterns.

Main Results:

• Identified five distinct postpartum trajectories of pregnancy exposure.
• The largest group (50%) resumed sex without contraception, experiencing amenorrhea.
• Family planning adopters (39%) resumed sex and contraception around three months postpartum.

Conclusions:

• Sequence analysis reveals dynamic states influencing postpartum pregnancy exposure.
• Longitudinal trajectories improve understanding of postpartum fecundity and unmet family planning needs.