Why are so many pregnancies still unintended in Ghana? A closer look at factors influencing reproductive autonomy
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19591841 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Samuel Salu (0009-0001-4069-0515, University of Health and Allied Sciences), Doreen Selasie Tay (University of Health and Allied Sciences), Clinton Sekyere Frempong (University of Health and Allied Sciences), Dennis Kweku Mawuli Okyere (0009-0005-8095-9231, University of Health and Allied Sciences), Prince Tsekpetse (Busitema University) |
| Editors | Adriana A E Biney (0000-0002-7188-0135), Adriana Biney |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | e0005850 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-22 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | PLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375 |
| Publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1371/journal.pgph.0005850 |
| PMID | 41569980 |
| OpenAlex | W7125503891 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 39 |
Unintended pregnancy remains a major public health challenge globally, with particularly high prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa. In Ghana, despite improvements in reproductive health service delivery, unintended pregnancies persist. This study examined the prevalence and factors influencing unintended pregnancy among sexually active women in Ghana. The study used data from the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey (GMHS), focusing on 1,453 sexually active women aged 15–49 years. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression models were employed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with unintended pregnancy. The prevalence of unintended pregnancy among participants was reported to be 57.9%. Multivariable analysis revealed that women aged 20–39 years were significantly more likely to experience unintended pregnancy compared to those aged 15–19 years. Women with primary education were less likely to report unintended pregnancies as compared to those with no education (aOR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.42–0.82). Living with a partner (aOR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.27–2.23) and residing in the Savannah region (aOR = 5.52, 95% CI: 3.93–7.76) were associated with higher odds of unintended pregnancy. Conversely, internet use (aOR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.30–0.66) showed protective effects against unintended pregnancies. The study concludes that unintended pregnancy was highly prevalent among sexually active women in Ghana. The findings highlight that public health interventions should be specifically targeted towards women above 20 years, those living with partners, and residents in the Savannah region. The findings also revealed that targeted interventions could leverage the protective effects of internet use by expanding access to reproductive health information via digital platforms and improving educational attainment to reduce the burden of unintended pregnancies among sexually active women
Logistic regression · Odds · Pregnancy · Psychological intervention · Public health · Reproductive health · Unintended consequences · Unintended pregnancy · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Reproductive Health and Contraception · Reproductive tract infections research
Relationship between health insurance enrolment and unintended pregnancy in Ghana
Access to adolescent sexual and reproductive health services in Accra, Ghana
Determinants of family planning services uptake among women within the reproductive age in the Yendi municipality in Northern Ghana
Unintended Childbearing and Child Growth in Northern Malawi
Unmet Need for Family Planning in Ghana
| Highly cited | No |
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