Chapter 10 – Pregnancy Options

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How common is unintended pregnancy in Australia?

Obtaining accurate data regarding the prevalence and risk factors for unintended pregnancy is challenging, however several studies have endeavoured to do this.

A national population telephone survey was conducted in 2015 which asked 2,013 women, aged between 18-45 years, whether they had experienced an unintended pregnancy within the last 10 years and the outcome of all pregnancies.(5) Of these women, 69% reported a pregnancy within the last 10 years; 26% had fallen pregnant without intending to do so; 53% of unintended pregnancies resulted in a live birth and 30.4% of unintended pregnancies ended in abortion. A 2006 Australian survey of 2,000 women found 51% of the respondents reported having experienced an ‘unplanned pregnancy’ in their lifetime. In the survey, 49% of women continued the pregnancy, 31% had an abortion, 18% miscarried and 2% adopted out.(6) Understanding the socio-demographic risk and protective factors associated with unintended pregnancy is important to guide clinical and public health strategies to help reduce unintended pregnancy rates. A national population‐based survey of women and men aged 18–51 years, recruited from a random sample from the Australian Electoral Roll was conducted in 2013.(7) Data from 2,235 completed questionnaires were analysed ... Buy now