Postpartum unintended pregnancy and contraception practice among rural-to-urban migrant women in Shanghai

Abstract

Background: Rural-to-urban migrant women in Shanghai have poor reproductive health; the incidence of postpartum unintended pregnancy and contraceptive practices has not been adequately studied in this population.

Study design: This retrospective study examined the incidence of postpartum unintended pregnancy and associated factors among migrant women and included a medical records reviews, telephone interviews and in-depth face-to-face interviews.

Results: The incidence of unintended pregnancy during the first and second years postpartum was 12.8 and 12.9 per 100 women-years, respectively. Eighty-six percent resulted from nonuse of contraception, and 88% ended in induced abortions. Median times of sexual activity resumption and contraception initiation were 2 months and 7.5 months postpartum, respectively. Approximately 17% of women did not adopt effective contraceptive methods until undergoing induced abortion.

Conclusions: Concentrated efforts, including contraception counseling prior to discharge and early postpartum visits, are required to increase early use of effective contraception among rural-to-urban migrant women in Shanghai and to reduce their high level of postpartum unintended pregnancy.