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Does unwanted pregnancy lead to adverse health and healthcare utilization for mother and child? Evidence from low- and middle-income countries

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  • Mohammad Hajizadeh

    (Dalhousie University)

  • Son Nghiem

    (Griffith University)

Abstract

Objectives Unwanted pregnancy is an important public health concern in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Using a pooled dataset from 48 Demographic Health Surveys conducted in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe (n = 494,778), we examined the effect of unwanted pregnancy on maternal and child healthcare utilization and child health outcomes in LMICs. Methods We used logistic regression models to estimate the effect of unwanted pregnancy on antenatal care use, supervised delivery, childhood vaccination and three indicators of child health, viz. stunting (height-for-age), underweight (weight-for-age) and wasting (weight-for-height). Results We found that mothers of children whose pregnancies had been unwanted had a lower probability of attending four or more antenatal care visits by 3.6% (95% confidence interval = 1.9–5.4%) compared to those whose pregnancy was wanted. We did not find significant impacts of unwanted pregnancy on supervised delivery, childhood vaccination uptake or child health indicators. Conclusions Birth characteristics, household-level determinants and country-level characteristics seem to be more closely related to maternal and child healthcare utilization as well as child health outcomes than whether the pregnancy was wanted or unwanted in LMICs.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammad Hajizadeh & Son Nghiem, 2020. "Does unwanted pregnancy lead to adverse health and healthcare utilization for mother and child? Evidence from low- and middle-income countries," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 65(4), pages 457-468, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ijphth:v:65:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s00038-020-01358-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s00038-020-01358-7
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    1. Hajizadeh, Mohammad & Heymann, Jody & Strumpf, Erin & Harper, Sam & Nandi, Arijit, 2015. "Paid maternity leave and childhood vaccination uptake: Longitudinal evidence from 20 low-and-middle-income countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 104-117.
    2. John J. Donohue III & Steven D. Levitt, 2001. "The Impact of Legalized Abortion on Crime," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 116(2), pages 379-420.
    3. Deon Filmer & Lant Pritchett, 2001. "Estimating Wealth Effects Without Expenditure Data—Or Tears: An Application To Educational Enrollments In States Of India," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 38(1), pages 115-132, February.
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