RISKS OF UNINTENDED PREGNANCY IN ENGLAND AND WALES IN 1989

Objective. To calculate age-related risks of unintended pregnancy among women in England and Wales in 1989. Design. Analysis of data from a survey of 1483 recent mothers, and of routinely collected data on abortions and maternities. Outcome measures. Age-specific and cumulative risks of unintended pregnancy. Results. The cumulative risk of unintended pregnancy from age 15 to 44 years exceeded one per woman. Among women who were sexually active and neither pregnant nor sterilised, the risk of unintended pregnancy was greatest among teenagers and declined progressively with increasing age. The risk among teenagers (9.9 unintended pregnancies per 100 women per year) wets four times the risk among women aged 35-44 years (risk=2.2 unintended pregnancies per 100 women per year). Women who were sexually active from the age of 15 years could expect, on average, one unintended pregnancy before reaching the age of 25. Conclusion. The risks of unintended pregnancy in 1989 were very high, particularly among younger women. Regular surveys are essential for monitoring progress in reducing the number of unintended pregnancies.