Research Article: Unintended pregnancy and contraceptive use among women in low- and middle-income countries: systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract:
Unintended pregnancy is a leading cause of maternal mortality associated with abortion, inadequate contraceptive use, contraceptive failure, and contraceptive discontinuation in low- and middle-income countries. Most unintended pregnancies occur in regions with limited availability of maternal health services, resulting in a significant number of maternal deaths. Therefore, this review aimed to assess the overall prevalence of unintended pregnancy among women using contraceptives in low- and middle-income countries.
Introduction:
According to data, approximately 40% of pregnancies in women of childbearing age worldwide are classified as unintended [1]. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an unwanted pregnancy as a pregnancy that was neither wanted nor planned at the time of conception [2]. Similarly, the International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FIGO) defines an unintended pregnancy as one that is either unplanned or mistimed at the time of conception [3].
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