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Interrelationships Between Pregnancy Intention, Antenatal Care, and Sociodemographic Factors: Analysis of a Nationwide Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Vietnam

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Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to improve the understanding of the interrelationships between sociodemographic factors, pregnancy intention, and antenatal care by: (1) identifying sociodemographic predictors of unintended pregnancy; (2) examining associations between unintended pregnancy types and antenatal care (ANC) inadequacy; (3) examining how the association between unintended pregnancy and ANC inadequacy is modified by maternal characteristics; and (4) identifying sociodemographic predictors of ANC inadequacy by pregnancy intention status.

Methods

We analyzed women 15–49 years of age who participated in the nationwide cross-sectional Vietnam Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. Pregnancy intention and ANC adequacy were assessed for the most recent live birth within two years preceding survey completion. Weighted Poisson regression was used to estimate risk ratios.

Results

Of the 1,474 study participants, 17.8% had unintended pregnancy and 29.0% had inadequate ANC. There was no significant confounding-adjusted association between unintended pregnancy and ANC inadequacy, except in those currently not working. Women with intended pregnancy or unintended pregnancy had significantly higher ANC inadequacy risk if they lived in rural areas, were less educated, and had no media exposure, lower wealth status, or more than two children. Younger age, ever given birth, having child loss, and positive attitude towards partner violence were significant predictors of ANC inadequacy only in women with intended pregnancy.

Conclusions for Practice:

ANC inadequacy was more strongly predicted by sociodemographic characteristics rather than pregnancy intention, and the sociodemographic variables’ prediction of ANC inadequacy was stronger in women with intended pregnancy than unintended pregnancy.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in [Survey-UNICEF MICS] at https://mics.unicef.org/surveys, reference number [VNM_2013_MICS_v01_M].

Code Availability

Not applicable.

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Health Program, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Thu Phuong Tran & Jason J. Liu

  2. Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Linong St., Beitou District, 112, Taipei, Taiwan

    Jason J. Liu

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  1. Thu Phuong Tran
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Contributions

TPT and JJL: conceptualized the analysis; TPT: performed data analysis; TPT and JJL: wrote the manuscript. The final manuscript was read and approved by all authors.

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Correspondence to Jason J. Liu.

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Tran, T.P., Liu, J.J. Interrelationships Between Pregnancy Intention, Antenatal Care, and Sociodemographic Factors: Analysis of a Nationwide Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Vietnam. Matern Child Health J 27, 142–150 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-022-03541-z

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