Exploring the Knowledge, Attitudes and Use of Contraception Methods in Relation to Unintended Pregnancy, an Experience from the Republic of Moldova
Authors: Irina Sagaidac , Maria Cemortan , Olga Cernetchi 
Published: May 2020

Background: The results of the MICS study in the Republic of Moldova show that 7% of 15–19 year-old women have already started their sexual life, of which 5% have already given birth. Since the number of women using modern methods of contraception is suboptimal, unintended pregnancies remain a persistent problem in Moldova.Methods: We have conducted a hospital based study in the largest maternity in Moldova. Women who gave birth 24–72 hours before were included as study participants and were divided into two groups - group # 1, in which the pregnancy was unplanned but was accepted psychologically and women gave birth and group # 2 which covered the women who consciously did not use contraception because they were planning a pregnancy.Results: The results of the study showed that 50.6% of the respondents started their sexual life at the age of ≤ 18 but only 34.2% of the total number of these women started using a contraceptive method along with the onset of sexual life. The results of the study showed that only 54.4% of the pregnancies were planned. Besides the fact that 54.0 ± 2.9% of the women in the postpartum period were not planning a pregnancy, 10.4% of women would not use any contraceptive method after discharge from maternity. Thus, in the event of an unwanted pregnancy in the future − 17% of women will have an abortion done, and 82.6% of women will accept unwanted pregnancy and will give birth. The most frequently cited reasons for women not to use a contraceptive method when not planning pregnancy were: fear of side effects − 14.6%, insufficient knowledge of different methods of contraception − 5.8%, increased cost of contraception − 8.8%.Conclusions: The results of the study showed that only half of the pregnancies that ended up with delivery were planned, the other half occurring spontaneously, following the unuse of a contraceptive method.Trial registration number ISRCTN10397992Plain English summaryThe article presents data on the analysis about awareness, attitudes and use of contraception methods among 600 women who were admitted in the hospital where they gave birth 24-72 hours before. Women answered a list of questions about the contraception methods they know and used before this pregnancy, whether the pregnancy was intended or not, and perspective of using modern contraception methods after the current birth.Respondents started their sexual life at the age of ≤18 in a half of cases but only 1/3 of the total number of these women started using a contraceptive method along with the onset of sexual life. The results of the study showed that only 54.4% of the pregnancies were planned. Besides the fact that 54% of the women in the postpartum period were not planning a pregnancy in future, 10.4% of women responded that they would not use any contraceptive method after discharge from maternity. Thus, in the event of an unwanted pregnancy in the future - 17% of women will do an abortion, and 82.6% of women will accept unwanted pregnancy and will give birth. The most common contraceptive method used by the women before current pregnancy is the male condom, and 1/3 of the women will use it after giving birth, at the same time, some women plan to change the contraceptive method.Providing information for all ages groups: adolescents, young nuliparous women, and women that already have delivered is crucial for their sexual and reproductive health.