Factors associated with unintended pregnancy.

This research was designed to identify determinants of unintended pregnancy among women attending family practice or family planning clinics. Survey data were collected from 95 women who were categorized according to whether or not they had experienced an unintended pregnancy. Women reporting unintended pregnancy were younger, reported earlier sexual debut and a greater number of sexual partners than those not having experienced an unintended pregnancy. Those who had avoided unintended pregnancy displayed higher levels of preventive sexual self-efficacy, had more confidence in their ability to use contraceptive methods, perceived more negative consequences associated with having children in the near future, and believed pregnancy among unmarried women to be less acceptable than did women who had had unintended pregnancies.