[Reproductive intentions and factors related to unplanned births, Paraguay, 1995-2008].

OBJECTIVE

To describe the reproductive intentions of Paraguayan women over the period from 1995 to 2008 and determine the characteristics associated with unwanted and mistimed pregnancies.

METHODS

An exploratory, descriptive study was conducted using secondary data from national demographic and reproductive health surveys from 1995, 2004, and 2008. The study examined the socio-demographic characteristics of the women, the use of contraceptive methods, and fertility, as well as the proportion of wanted, mistimed, and unwanted births. Using two multifactorial logistic regression models, the characteristics associated with unwanted or mistimed pregnancies were determined.

RESULTS

In 2008, one-third (33.3%) of the births were unplanned (25.6% mistimed and 7.7% unwanted). Age was directly and significantly associated with the woman having wanted to postpone her most recent birth; level of schooling was inversely related to the possibility of having mistimed births; and living in urban areas was associated with unwanted births. Not being married or in a stable relationship was associated with regarding the most recent birth as unwanted or mistimed, not only among single women, but also among those separated, divorced, and widowed.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite improvements in women's levels of schooling, their increasing access to paid employment, the growing use of contraceptive methods, and reductions in fertility, there are still groups of women who are unable to fulfill their reproductive intentions and are at risk of having unwanted or mistimed pregnancies.