Unintended pregnancy risk in an emergency department population

Objective: To assess unintended pregnancy risk and associated factors among female urban Baltimore emergency department (ED) attendees. Methods: A cross-sectional anonymous questionnaire study was completed by 790 women, sufficient to detect a 5% difference of unintended pregnancy risk in the national population and a 10% intersite difference with 80% power. The results were analyzed with chi-square tests, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: Female ED attendees are at greater risk for unintended pregnancy (33.5%), particularly those of lower income (p=.006) and without a primary care provider (p=.003). Unintended pregnancy risk did not vary between sites by any variable except young age despite the fact that sites varied significantly by race, insurance and income measures. Conclusion: Women using the ED are at increased risk for unintended pregnancy and are less likely to have access to a regular medical care source; thus, the ED represents a possible contraceptive provision site. (C) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.