EFFECTS OF UNPLANNED PREGNANCY ON MOTHER AND CHILD HEALTH

Objective: The unplanned pregnancies are hazardous to both mother and child health. The ratio of unplanned pregnancies is quite high across the globe. The study aims to determine the effects of unplanned pregnancies on maternal and neonatal health. Methodolgy: The study follows descriptive, case control study design. 900 pregnant ladies were included, the age group was between 15 to 45 years. The study duration was from 2013 to 2015. Fifty percent of enrolled females had planned pregnancies while 50% had unplanned pregnancies, control group and case group, respectively. The data collection was done by researchers themselves, on a pre-designed questionnaire. The biodata, maternal and child health details were recorded on this questionnaire. Analysis was done through SPSS 16 version. Results: 29.4+/-7 years was mean age. Mostly planned pregnancies were between 20 to 30 years age group. The enrolled females mostly belonged to 20 to 30 years age group. Neonatal intensive care unit admissions OR 2.40 with p-value < 0.001, low birth weight OR 1.25. p value < 0.001. Apgar at 5 minutes was less than seven OR 2.07, p value 0.032, pre-term labor OR 2.21, P value < 0.001, were more frequently seen in unplanned pregnancies than in planned pregnancies. Conclusion: It was observed that complications like, low birth weight, poor Apgar at 5 minutes after birth, neonatal intensive care unit admission rate and preterm labor were more frequently associated with unplanned pregnancies than in planned one.