High incidence of unplanned births

Press, 16 August 1978, Page 6

High incidence of unplanned births

About one-third of live births to married couples are unplanned, and the contraceptive pill — or lack of it — plays a part in most of these.

Researchers from the; pediatrics department of Christchurch Clinical School surveyed 1038 urban mothers and found that although there was a high incidence of unplanned pregnancies, there was little evidence to suggest that unplanned children were unwanted children. .

Some mothers became; pregnant while using the; pill; others stopped taking it j because of side-effects, and) failed to establish an alterna-i tive method; others took “rest” periods during which they used no other methods; and others failed to renew their prescriptions. Five per cent of mothers considered the possibility of an induced abortion, but only half consulted a doctor, and only five women said that they had been refused an abortion for reasons other than the stage of pregnancy.

, The most common reason cited for unplanned pregnancies is usually low socioeconomic status, reducing the likelihood that a couple would practise efficient contraception. The Christchurch study gave no support to this view: The incidence of unplanned pregnancies showed no association with the maternal education level, or with socio-economic status. However, the study did show that disproportionate numbers of Maori and Pacific Island children were unplanned. The researchers suggest that this may indicate that cultural factors play a role in New Zealand family planning. Lack of family planning did not seem to be the result of any predominant view about the undesirability of contraception.

Only 18 mothers said that they were not using contraception for religious or personal reasons, and there was no statistically signifiicant association between religion and the planning of pregnancy.

The researchers listed several points which should be born in mind by women using the pill. They should refrain from Using the pill if they felt that something had happened to impair its efficiency. They should refrain from intercourse until the beginning of the next cycle, or use an alternative method of contraception.

Patients were urged to note the folly of taking selfimposed “rest” periods from the pill.

When changing from the pill to another method, women were urged to ensure that they had adequate contraceptive protection.

It was also suggested that doctors should point out in an “non-coercive way” the advantages and liabilities of tubal ligation and vasectomy.

“The high incidence of unplanned fourth or later children suggests that this advice may help women who have completed their families,” it said.