J Reprod Infert arij001 Journal of Reproduction & Infertility 2228-5482 2251-676X Avicenna Research Institute jri144 "Unwanted" pregnancies and its determinants in Iran Abbasi-ShavaziMohammad JalalDepartment of Demography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tehran University, Tehran, IranHosseini- ChavoshiMeimanatPopulation Data Unit., Department of Family Health and Population, Ministry of Helath, Tehran, IranDelavarBahramPopulation Data Unit., Department of Family Health and Population, Ministry of Helath, Tehran, Iran 5 1 62 77 1 1 2004 1 1 2004

Introduction: Despite the success of family planning programs in Iran during the recent years, surveys indicate that a significant proportion of pregnancies are unwanted. The objective of the present study was to examine the rate of unwanted pregnancies in Iran and to analyze the effect of relevant socio-economic and demographic variables on unwanted pregnancies. Materials and Methods: The data and informations for this study were obtained from the “Iran Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS)” undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 2000. The study was performed on 5420 married pregnant woman. Results: Results showed that around 35 percent of pregnancies were unintended, of which 19 percent were mistimed and 16 percent were unwanted. There was a meaningful relation between unintended pregnancy rate and pregnancy turn. Besides, around 42 percent of women who experienced unintended pregnancy were using a contraceptive method. Traditional methods and pills were the most prevalent methods used prior to unintended pregnancies in rural and urban areas respectively. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study we suggest that the improvement of quality of family planning services is likely to decrease the level of unintended pregnancies in the future. The programs should target the couples who rely on traditional methods and pill in urban and rural areas respectively.