PREVALENCE OF UNINTENDED PREGNANCY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE IN OSUN STATE NIGERIA: A MIXED METHOD STUDY

Background: Unintended pregnancy (UP) is a significant public health concern globally, affecting women of reproductive age with significant repercussions on women‘s health, economic stability, and societal well-being. Despite various initiatives to promote family planning and the availability of different contraceptive methods, many women face pressure to conform to societal expectations that prioritize large families and stigmatize contraceptive use, resulting in a high prevalence of unintended pregnancy in Osun State. Therefore, this study examined the prevalence of unintended pregnancy and associated factors among women of reproductive age in Osun State.Methods: The study employed a mixed method design of quantitative and qualitative method among 198 women of reproductive age selected from six local government areas in Osun State. Quantitative data was collected through a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Qualitative data involved key informant interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) with religious leaders and women of reproductive age. The study ensured validity and reliability (Cronbach‘s alpha α = 0.85). Quantitative data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 24, with a significance level set at p ≤ 0.05. Qualitative analysis was coded using and analysed using Atlas ti version 24.Results: The prevalence of unintended pregnancy was 42.4%. At multivariate level using regression analysis, age (B=0.151, p<0.001, C.I =0.075-0.266), Marital status (B= 2.626, p=0.030, C.I=-0.499 to -0.262), residence (B=2.109, p<0.001, C.I=1.153-3.066) and religious affiliation (B= 1.848, p<0.001, C.I= -2.777 to -0.918) were significantly with unplanned pregnancy.Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of unintended pregnancy among women in Osun State linked to social, cultural, and religious factors. Hence, public health initiatives should address these factors to reduce unintended pregnancy and improve uptake of family planning services among women in Osun State.