Multidimensional Measures of Fertility Intentions regarding Terminated Pregnancy and Association with Subsequent Reproductive Health Outcomes in Bangladesh

Erin Pearson, Johns Hopkins University
Kamal Kanti Biswas, Ipas
Rezwana Chowdhury, Ipas
Sharmin Sultana, Ipas
S. M. Shahidullah, Ipas
Caroline Moreau, Johns Hopkins University and Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)

Multidimensional measures of fertility intentions, including desire for pregnancy and mistiming, have been recommended over simpler measures. The present study assesses the association between multidimensional measures of fertility intentions and reproductive health outcomes among a facility-based sample of 360 uterine evacuation clients in Bangladesh. Women who had higher pregnancy avoidance scores for their terminated pregnancy had higher odds of subsequent contraceptive use, and lower odds of pregnancy at four months post-abortion. Ambivalence about the timing of the terminated pregnancy was associated with lower odds of post-abortion contraceptive uptake (95% CI: 0.19 – 0.96). Mistiming of the terminated pregnancy was also associated with subsequent contraceptive use; those whose pregnancies were more mistimed were more likely to use modern contraception. Our findings are in line with those of previous studies, and suggest that multidimensional measures of fertility intentions for a terminated pregnancy can be used to predict subsequent contraceptive use and pregnancy.