Abstract
Background: The study was conducted to characterize the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and unintended pregnancy, contraceptive use patterns, and perceived fertility. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional, nationally representative database (2002 National Survey of Family Growth). Unintended pregnancy was compared among BMI groups [normal (<25 m/kg2), overweight (25-30 m/kg2) and obese (>30 m/kg2)]. Analyses also evaluated the association between demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral and health-related variables and BMI. Multiple logistic regression with adjustment for sampling design was used to measure associations of interest. Results: BMI data were available from 6690 nonpregnant women. Of these, 3600 (53.6%) were normal weight, 1643 (25%) were overweight and 1447 (21.4%) were obese. Compared to women with normal BMIs, the risk of unintended pregnancy in the last 5 years did not differ among overweight [adjusted OR 0.95 (95% CI 0.77-1.17)] or obese [adjusted OR 0.87 (95% CI 0.70-1.09)] women. There were no differences in contraceptive use patterns or perceived fertility among BMI groups. Conclusion: Data from the 2002 NSFG do not support an association between obesity and unintended pregnancy.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 234-238 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Contraception |
Volume | 77 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2008 |
Keywords
- BMI
- Contraceptive use
- Obesity
- Perceived fertility
- Unintended pregnancy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Reproductive Medicine
- Obstetrics and Gynecology