Unintended and unwanted pregnancy in Halifax: the rate and associated factors

We present the results of a study designed to assess the incidence of unintended and unwanted pregnancies in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and to characterize the socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with women at high risk. Of 200 pregnancies, 32.5% were unintended and 16.5% unwanted. This, together with the rate of therapeutic abortions among Halifax area women, suggests that approximately 45% and 32% of conceptions leading to viable pregnancies are unintended and unwanted, respectively. Contrary to data collected in 1971, the majority of these women were single. Marital status and parity were significant determinants of both pregnancy intention and wantedness. According to these results, unintended and unwanted pregnancies continue to occur at high rates among certain groups of women living in the Halifax region, despite improvements in the efficacy and availability of contraceptives.