Differences in pregnancy planning between women aged 18-44, with and without diabetes: behavioral risk factor surveillance system analysis.

Aim: Assess differences in pregnancy planning and behavioral risk factors among women of reproductive age, by diabetes status.

Methods: A secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2002 and 2004) was conducted. Subjects were 18-44-year-old, non-pregnant, fertile women, grouped into two categories: non-diabetes (n=57,436), and diabetes (n=2929). Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted prevalence odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Results: Approximately 93% of women of reproductive age with or without diabetes are not intending a pregnancy, and yet among them, women with diabetes are 22% more likely not to use any birth control at all. Women with diabetes are 3.4 times more likely to be obese, 1.4 times more likely to be overweight, 35% less likely to drink any alcohol, and 27% less likely to binge drink alcohol, than women without diabetes. There were no differences in risk factors between women with diabetes that were and were not intending a pregnancy.

Conclusions: Birth control nonuse for women with diabetes not intending a pregnancy and lack of behavioral change for women with diabetes intending a pregnancy, combined with an increasing prevalence in diabetes, will likely result in significant economic and social tolls on society.