Reasons for unprotected intercourse: analysis of the PRAMS survey.

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to identify reasons why women had unprotected intercourse that led to an unintended pregnancy.

METHODS

As part of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey, women with a recent unintended viable pregnancy were asked after the birth why they had not used birth control.

RESULTS

Of 7856 respondents, 33% felt they could not get pregnant at the time of conception, 30% did not really mind if they got pregnant, 22% stated their partner did not want to use contraception, 16% cited side effects, 10% felt they or their partner were sterile, 10% cited access problems and 18% selected "other." Latent class analysis showed seven patterns of response, each identifying strongly with a single reason.

CONCLUSIONS

Almost half of women with viable unintended pregnancies ending in a birth felt they could not/would not get pregnant at the time of conception. Most women identified with a single reason for having unprotected intercourse.