Abstract
Objective
Earlier pregnancy discovery is important in the context of prenatal and abortion care.
We evaluated characteristics associated with later pregnancy discovery among women
seeking abortion care.
Study design
Data come from a survey of women seeking abortion care at four family planning facilities
in Utah. The participants completed a survey during the state-mandated abortion information
visit they are required to complete prior to having an abortion. The outcome in this
study was pregnancy discovery before versus after 6 weeks since respondents' last
menstrual period (LMP). We used logistic regression to estimate the relationship between
sociodemographic and health-related independent variables of interest and pregnancy
discovery before versus after 6 weeks.
Results
Among the 458 women in the sample, 28% discovered their pregnancy later than 6 weeks
since LMP. Most (n=366, 80%) knew the exact date of their LMP and a significant minority estimated it
(n=92, 20%). Those who estimated the date of their LMP had higher odds of later pregnancy
discovery than those who knew the exact date (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.81[1.07–3.07]). Those who used illicit drugs weekly, daily, or almost daily had
higher odds of later pregnancy discovery (aOR=6.33[2.44, 16.40]).
Conclusion
Women who did not track their menstrual periods and those who frequently used drugs
had higher odds of discovering their pregnancies later.
Implications
Women who estimated the date of their LMP and who frequently used drugs may benefit
from strategies to help them recognize their pregnancies earlier and link them to
care when they discover their pregnancies later.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 11, 2017
Accepted:
December 3,
2017
Received in revised form:
December 1,
2017
Received:
August 1,
2017
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
