Risk factors for unwanted pregnancy and subsequent abortion among women aged 16 to 25 years in Latvia.

Objective: To investigate the risk factors associated with unwanted pregnancy in 16- to 25-year-old women in Latvia.

Methods: Case-control study of 16- to 25-year-old, sexually active women who did not want to get pregnant: the cases were 144 women who underwent their first abortion whereas 278 nulliparous women served as controls. Data concerning them were obtained by using a semi-structured anonymous questionnaire that included questions about education, sexual life habits, contraceptive practice and a multiple-choice test to assess knowledge about contraception.

Results: Women who underwent an abortion had had more lifetime sexual partners, had more often not used any contraception, and were significantly less knowledgeable about the latter than controls. No strong correlation between knowledge and actual contraceptive practice was observed in the study groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that the most significant risk factors were non-use of contraception or use of less effective methods.

Conclusions: The risk of unwanted pregnancy was associated with the woman's behaviour; her knowledge of contraception was much less relevant. Sexual health programmes should focus more on intrapersonal and interpersonal factors to promote use of effective contraception among young women.