Introduction

Unintended pregnancies expose women to obstetric risks arising from undesired fertility, unsafe abortions, inadequate birth spacing, and pregnancies in high risk groups1,2,3,4,5. Family planning (FP) using modern contraceptives has reduced the number of maternal deaths globally by 40% over the past two decades6. In 2012, 220 million women were estimated to still have an unmet need for FP. If all women who wanted to avoid pregnancy were able to access effective FP, an estimated 54 million unintended pregnancies, 21 million unplanned births, 16 million unsafe abortions, 1.1 million infant deaths and 118,000 maternal deaths would have been prevented3. This represents a 30% reduction in maternal deaths globally6. Additionally, an ability to adequately space births and achieve desired family size enables women to participate in the workforce and to achieve higher levels of education for themselves and their children2,7.

At an estimated 594 per 100,000 live births, in 2013 Papua New Guinea (PNG) has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios (MMR) in the world; it was one of only 16 countries globally to have a persistently high MMR between 500 and 1000, between 1990 and 20138. Evidence suggests that prevalence of unmet need for FP among women of childbearing age who were married or in union did not improve in PNG in the two decades from 1990 to 2010, making it one of 42 countries globally with an unmet need greater than 25%9. In 2015, an estimated 317,000 women of childbearing age in PNG had an unmet need for FP, and this is projected to increase to 337,000 by 203010. Fulfilling unmet needs for FP may prevent an estimated nearly half (47.4%) of all maternal deaths in PNG11. The Government of PNG and its donor partners have intensified efforts to reduce maternal mortality primarily through increased access to and uptake of modern methods of FP12,13. Accordingly, increasing population coverage of FP is a target of PNG’s National Health Plan 2011–202014 and an important element of the country’s contribution to global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)15. However, additional data on factors associated with unintended pregnancy and FP use are needed to help achieve these goals.

There are significant geographic, social and cultural barriers and health system constraints to delivering modern FP and maternal and child health (MCH) services in PNG16,17,18,19,20, and data on unintended pregnancy and FP use among women of childbearing age to inform evidence-based public health strategies and interventions is limited. PNG’s latest published Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) from 2016 estimates that women have on average 1.2 more children than they desire21. Results from a cross-sectional survey of pregnant women attending multiple antenatal clinics (ANC) at Port Moresby General Hospital in PNG’s capital city suggest that around half of pregnancies in this population are unintended 22. PNG’s DHS also found that over 80% of women and men aged 15–49 years could recall a modern method of FP, but only 37% reported ever having used a modern method of FP21. However, knowledge of factors associated with unintended pregnancy and FP use is limited. This paper reports prevalence and predictors of unintended pregnancy and FP use from a cross-sectional sample of pregnant women attending their first ANC visit in East New Britain (ENB) Province, PNG. This study aimed to generate findings to inform public health strategies to facilitate improved access to and uptake of a range of FP options and reduce unintended pregnancies.

Methods

This study included analysis of cross-sectional baseline data from a larger prospective observational cohort study of pregnancy and childbirth undertaken in ENB Province, by a multi-partner research program led by the Burnet Institute with the PNG Institute of Medical Research, the ENB Provincial Health Office (now Provincial Health Authority) and the Kirby Institute of the University of New South Wales, Sydney. Input from relevant national and local stakeholders, including policy-makers, medical specialists, and healthcare workers at all levels, was sought during 2013 and 2014 to inform the design of the study. This paper reports on interview data relevant to FP collected at the enrolment contact point at the first ANC visit.

Setting

ENB Province is located in the Islands Region of PNG. According to the 2011 census, ENB had a population of 328,369 and a population growth rate of 3.6% between 2000 and 201123. The province is predominantly rural, reflecting PNG’s national profile wherein 87% of the PNG population reside in rural areas24, with two small urban centres (populations estimated at close to 32,000 (Kokopo) and 5000 (Rabaul)23). Pregnant women of any gravidity attending their first ANC visit were recruited from five healthcare facilities located in three of the four districts in ENB (Gazelle, Kokopo and Rabaul) where 78% of the provincial population resides23. They comprise a mix of two government and three church-run facilities and are the busiest providers of reproductive health services in these adjoining districts, accounting for over 75% of antenatal services, based on information provided by the Provincial Health Office in 2014. Nonga General Hospital is the government referral hospital for the province, and is located near Rabaul township. The government-run Kerevat Rural Hospital is the most remotely located of the participating facilities and is administered by the Gazelle District Health Administration. Saint Mary’s Hospital Vunapope, and Napapar and Paparatava Health Centres are administered by Catholic Health Services, PNG, under the Gazelle District Health Administration. Vunapope is located in the town of Kokopo, the capital and largest urban centre in ENB, whereas Napapar and Paparatava are smaller, rural facilities.

Study population

Women were enrolled between March 2015 and June 2017. A target sample size of 700 was set by the larger cohort study’s parameters needed to assess predictors of low birth weight. Recruitment aimed for a representative sample of pregnant women attending ANC who were selected randomly (by rolling dice) with spacing to ensure both early and late attendees were invited. Women had to meet the following eligibility criteria; (1) age of 16 years or older; (2) attending ANC for the first time for the current pregnancy; (3) residing within the catchment area of the healthcare facility; (4) intending to live in ENB for the subsequent 12 months; (5) agree to participate in the study. Written informed consent was obtained from all study participants.

Data collection and measures

A questionnaire with a mix of closed and open-ended questions was drafted in English and translated into Tok Pisin language, the most widely spoken national language of PNG. It was administered using electronic handheld devices by research officers of PNG nationality, trained in clinical interview techniques, using a private location at each facility to ensure confidentiality.

Outcome measures of pregnancy intention and FP use were adapted from standard FP items in the DHS women’s questionnaire25, and modified to the PNG context after pre-testing (including revision to include contraceptive methods currently available). Women could report their current pregnancy as either (1) mistimed (i.e., wanting to be pregnant later, but not at this time), (2) unwanted (i.e., not wanting to be pregnant at all) or (3) wanted; a pregnancy was considered unintended if it was mistimed or unwanted26. Women were asked if they had ever used FP, and if so, without prompting, were asked to recall all methods (modern and/or traditional) that they had ever used. Modern and traditional methods of FP were defined using World Health Organization classifications27 with modern methods comprising: oral contraceptive pills, implants, injectables (Depo Provera), female sterilisation, male sterilisation, intra-uterine devices, diaphragm, emergency contraception, male and female condoms.

Exposure measures comprised of questions relating to socio-demographic characteristics, male partner involvement in ANC, pregnancy history, and knowledge of FP methods. Male partner involvement was assessed by asking women whether their husband/male partner was in attendance at ANC that day, and if not, whether he would have liked to attend. Questions relating to pregnancy history (pregnancy number and number of years since the previous pregnancy) included all previous pregnancies regardless of outcome. Similar to questions on FP use, without prompting, women were asked to recall all methods of FP of which they were aware. Open-ended questions asked women to give opinions on barriers to accessing FP services if they reported that access to FP was sometimes a problem, or if they were unsure if access was difficult. They were also asked to provide reasons for non-use of FP if they reported never having used any method of FP. Research officers selected from a list of standardised response options those that best matched the woman’s answer/s, with multiple response options allowed. If a participant’s response differed from the standardised list this was captured as a free-text entry.

Statistical analysis

Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression explored correlates of unintended pregnancy and lifetime use of a modern method/s of FP. Variables of interest were chosen for multivariable analyses a priori and included healthcare facility of recruitment and variables cited in the literature to be associated with these outcomes of interest (marital status, indicators of socio-economic status and gravidity21,22,28) and variables hypothesised to have an association (male involvement in ANC and reporting difficulty accessing FP). Due to collinearity between participant educational level, male partner educational level, participant employment status, male partner employment status and monthly household expenditure, only participant educational level was included in the final multivariable model. Similarly, due to collinearity between age and gravidity, only gravidity was included in the final models.

All analyses were performed using STATA version 13.0 (StataCorp, TX, USA).

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Approval for the study protocol was granted in PNG by the Papua New Institute of Medical Research’s Institutional Review Board (14.11), the National Department of Health Medical Research Advisory Committee (14.27), and in Australia by the Alfred Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee (348/18). Approval to conduct the study was obtained from the Provincial Executive Committee of the East New Britain Provincial Government, and the individual health centres involved. Key considerations were to ensure written informed consent using local language forms and detailed explanations, minimisation of discomfort during data collection, and assurance of confidentiality through use of non-identifiable study identifiers; there was separate, limited, controlled access to any identifying information required for follow-up. Independent contact points for complaints or adverse event reporting were publicised and maintained by the Burnet Institute and PNG Institute of Medical Research. All study participants provided written informed consent. All study procedures were performed in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations.

Results

Participant characteristics

A total of 699 pregnant women (median age 26 years) participated in the study. Most women (491/699; 70%) were recruited from Catholic church-administered healthcare facilities (Vunapope, Napapar and Paparatava), and most (432/699; 62%) from rurally located facilities (Kerevat, Napapar and Paparatava). Almost all (663/697; 95%) reported being married or cohabiting with their male partner. Just over half (373/698; 53%) had completed higher than primary school education, and the majority (553/699; 79%) were not in paid employment at the time of the study. One-quarter (175/699; 25%) were in their first pregnancy, whilst a minority (65/699; 9%) were grand-multigravid women with their sixth pregnancy or greater. Half (353/694; 51%) had a husband/partner who was either present at ANC (18%) or who was not but was reported to have wanted to attend (33%; Table 1).

Table 1 Participant characteristics at antenatal clinics.
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Prevalence and predictors of unintended pregnancy

There was a very high prevalence of unintended pregnancy, with over half (383/698; 55%) of the women reporting their current pregnancy as unintended (27% mistimed and 28% unwanted, Table 1).

Univariate analysis identified several factors associated with higher odds of unintended pregnancy: marital status (single, separated or divorced), higher monthly household expenditure, increasing gravidity, a more recent previous pregnancy, and older age (weak effect) (Table 2). Lower odds of unintended pregnancy were associated with male partner involvement in ANC attendance and the male partner being employed in paid work. Reported FP use or access was not associated with unintended pregnancies. Although unintended pregnancy was higher among older women and multigravida women, it was still very high among younger women and primigravid women. Almost half (132/275; 48%) of those aged 16–24 years reported their current pregnancy as unintended, increasing to 66% (54/82) among those aged 35 and older. Similarly, 44% (77/177) of primigravid women reported their current pregnancy as unintended, increasing to 77% (49/64) amongst grand-multigravid women with their sixth pregnancy or greater.

Table 2 Factors associated with unintended pregnancy.
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In multivariable analysis (which omitted collinear variables as defined in “Methods”) (Table 2), women who were single, separated or divorced had almost tenfold the odds of unintended pregnancy than women who were married or co-habiting with their male partner (AOR 9.66, 95% CI 3.27–28.54). However, the great majority of women with unintended pregnancies were women with partners. Women who were educated to a tertiary or vocational level had increased odds of unintended pregnancy compared to women who completed primary school or less (AOR 1.78, 95% CI 1.15–2.73). Gravidity was also associated: the odds of reporting the current pregnancy as unintended increased by 43% (95% CI 1.29–1.59) with each subsequent pregnancy. Importantly, women who were accompanied by their male partner to ANC had decreased odds of unintended pregnancy compared with participants who were not (AOR 0.46, 95% CI 0.30–0.73).

In a sub-analysis of multigravid women (n = 503), reporting that the current pregnancy occurred less than two years after the previous pregnancy was associated with unintended pregnancy (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.20–3.02) (Table 2).

Prevalence and predictors of modern family planning use

Knowledge and reported use of modern methods of FP was very low. Over half (409/690; 59%) of women knew of at least one modern method but only 18% (121/690) reported ever having used a modern method (Table 1).

In univariate analysis, older age, male partner having paid employment, higher monthly household expenditure, higher gravidity and male involvement were associated with higher modern FP use (Table 3). Reported modern FP use was particularly low among younger and primigravid women, ranging from 8% (22/270) among women aged 16–24 years to 28% (23/82) among women aged 35 years and older, and from only 2% (4/176) among primigravid women to 32% (21/65) among women with their sixth pregnancy or greater. FP use also differed by the healthcare facility where women were attending.

Table 3 Factors associated with ever having used a modern method of family planning.
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In multivariable analysis, compared with women who were seen at Vunapope hospital (a town-based church-administered facility), women who were seen at Paparatava health centre (a rural church-administered facility) had a 79% reduction in the odds of reporting use of modern FP (AOR 0.21, 95% CI 0.09–0.51). Women seen at Kerevat hospital (a rural government administered facility) had over twofold the odds of reporting use of modern FP (AOR 2.78, 95% CI 1.56–4.96). Male partner involvement was associated with higher FP use in the adjusted analysis: women who reported that their male partner was not at ANC but wanted to attend had increased odds of reporting ever having used a modern method of FP than women whose male partner was not present and did not want to attend (AOR 2.26, 95% CI 1.39–3.67). With each subsequent pregnancy, the odds of reporting ever having used a modern method of FP increased by 54% (95% CI 1.36–1.74) (Table 3).

In a sub-analysis of multigravid women (n = 503), the number of years since the previous pregnancy was not associated with reporting ever having used a modern method of FP (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.58–1.63) (Table 3).

Family planning methods

There was a relatively low prevalence of knowledge of different FP options (Table 4). Most (498/690; 72%) women could recall at least one method of FP, whether modern or traditional. A greater proportion of women could recall a modern method (409/690; 59%) than a traditional method (224/690; 32%). Modern methods most commonly recalled were injectables (285/690; 41%) and the oral contraceptive pill (177/690; 26%). The traditional method that was most commonly recalled by participants was the rhythm method (186/690; 27%). Of women who could recall a modern method of FP, 66% (268/409) could recall more than one modern method, but less than one-third (121/409; 30%) had ever used a modern method.

Table 4 Prevalence of knowledge of and use of family planning.
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There was a very low prevalence of reported lifetime use of FP. One-third (226/690; 33%) of women reported ever having used any method, whether modern or traditional. A similar proportion of women reported ever having used a modern method of FP (121/690; 18%) as ever having used a traditional method (113/690; 16%). Modern methods that were most commonly used were injectables (90/690; 13%) and the oral contraceptive pill (20/690; 3%). The rhythm method was the most common traditional method ever used (95/690; 14%) (Table 4). Of women who had ever used a modern method, only eight (N = 121; 7%) had ever used more than one type of modern method.

Reasons for never using family planning, and barriers to access to family planning

Of 464 women who reported never having used any method of FP, just under half (n = 220) provided at least one reason for non-use. The most common reason for non-use, reported by 55% (120/220) of women, was insufficient knowledge about FP or how to access it. It was also common to report beliefs surrounding FP (personal objection, family objection, or fear of stigma from the community) as a reason for non-use (67/220; 30%). Other social or attitudinal factors, reported by 16% (36/220) of women, included wanting to be pregnant, or the absence of their male partner preventing them from being able to use FP (Table 5). Structural barriers were less commonly reported by those who had never used FP, with only 7% (16/220) reporting FP supply or accessibility as a reason for non-use. Most women (204/220; 93%) gave one reason only for non-use of FP, with only 7% (16/220) providing more than one.

Table 5 Reported reasons for never having used family planning.
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Similarly, of 241 women who reported that access to FP was sometimes a problem, or that they were unsure if access was difficult, the most common reason given was lack of knowledge about FP or how to access it (33/241; 14%). Almost one-quarter (55/241; 23%) reported beliefs (of participant, male partner or community) relating to FP to be a barrier to access, including feeling that healthcare is not needed to obtain/practice FP, obstructive attitudes from other family or community members, fear of side effects and personal objections to the use of FP. Over one-quarter of women (62/241; 26%) reported service delivery problems to be a barrier, including cost and accessibility of transport and healthcare, health worker attitudes, and inadequate supply and provision of FP services (Table 6). A minority (25/241; 10%) of women gave more than one reason. Of these women, service delivery problems were commonly reported, with 32% (8/25) reporting both cost of transport and cost of healthcare to be a problem, and 32% (8/25) reporting cost (either of transport or healthcare) together with distance to the healthcare facility or with difficulty accessing transport to get to the facility. Many (103/241; 43%) women did not provide a reason why FP was difficult to access; of these women, most (80/103; 78%) had responded that they were unsure if FP was difficult to access.

Table 6 Reported reasons for difficulty accessing family planning.
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Discussion

This is the first report to describe pregnancy intention and FP knowledge and use in PNG including pregnant women in urban and smaller rural health facilities in PNG, and identifying factors associated with unintended pregnancy and FP use. Our study population had very high prevalence of unintended pregnancy, low levels of knowledge of FP, and very low levels of reported lifetime use of modern methods of FP. Prevalence of unintended pregnancy in our study population (even accounting for methodological differences) appears higher than that found in a 2012 survey of antenatal attendees in PNG’s urban capital city22 and more than 10% higher than global and regional estimates1. Levels of knowledge and use of modern FP methods in our study population are lower than those found in PNG’s DHS21. They are also well below the United Nations estimated 28.7% of PNG women aged 15–49 married or in union10. Even multigravid women with a space of two years or more between most recent pregnancies were more likely to report the current pregnancy as unintended than those with a space of less than two years, reflecting this population’s low rates of pregnancy planning. If SDG targets to increase access to sexual and reproductive health services and reduce maternal mortality are to be met in this setting, evidence-based demand and supply-side interventions must be significantly scaled up, taking a whole-of-population approach to ensure universal access to FP.

Our data suggest that knowledge is an important constraint; while most women in our study were aware of at least one modern FP method, the most common barrier reported by participants was lack of adequate information and knowledge regarding how FP works or how to access it. Over half of participants who reported having never used any method of FP did not give a reason for this; it is plausible that this was also due in large part to lack of knowledge. Social and personal factors limiting demand for FP were also important, illustrated by the large discrepancy we found between women who knew of a modern method of FP and those who reported having ever used a modern method. Personal, male partner and community beliefs, attitudes and norms, including objections to the use of FP and fear of side effects were commonly reported by women to discourage seeking and using FP. Male partner involvement in antenatal care was strongly associated with reduced unintended pregnancy and higher use of modern FP, highlighting the potential benefits of including men in all public health strategies to increase uptake, accessibility and demand for FP. In PNG, as in many similar settings globally, decisions on birth spacing and FP use often involve male partners and other family members16,29,30,31; our data concur with the findings of others that family or community attitudes to FP can be a significant barrier to uptake21,30.

Information and education initiatives proven elsewhere in PNG and similar countries could address the demand-side barriers we documented; to improve knowledge, challenge myths and misconceptions, and promote uptake of FP. They can be provided by a range of personnel, including health care professionals, peer educators, teachers and trainers across a range of settings, including homes, schools, workplaces and community venues31,32,33,34. Mass media with extensive reach and appeal, such as in serial dramas or promotional material on television or radio32,35,36, could hold great potential in our setting where more than 70% of women and men of childbearing age in the Islands region reported listening to radio once or more per week21. Information services tailored to men and boys, through channels they feel comfortable accessing37, have been shown elsewhere to increase knowledge and uptake of FP across a range of settings31,38. Such interventions can also promote gender equity and successfully change gender-related attitudes and behaviours that restrict FP uptake39. Use of mobile telephone messaging, a preferred source of sexual and reproductive health information for young people in Pacific islands34, may also offer new options in our setting40,41.

Our findings also call for significant re-organisation and scale-up of the delivery of FP services, to meet current unmet need and any expansion of demand. In view of our finding of an over-reliance on less effective traditional FP methods, expanding the choice of methods readily available is important. Injectable contraception was the only method reported commonly by women in our sample who had used modern FP, with few reporting use of other methods, such as other long acting reversible contraception (LARC) or the oral contraceptive pill. Condom use was very rarely reported, possibly reflecting lack of knowledge of the dual function of condoms for FP as well as disease prevention, and/or difficulties in women’s negotiation of condom use with male partners30. This is of particular significance in the context of an extremely high burden of reproductive tract infections in the population under study42. PNG’s national FP policy13 stipulates access to a range of modern contraceptive options, in line with international recommendations43,44, and adequate clinical guidelines exist for PNG health care45,46. However, additional detailed operational guidance and practical strategies to translate policy into effective practice are needed18,20.

Increasing FP (LARC in particular) availability at the community level, as well as at all levels of the health care system, has been demonstrated to be highly cost-effective for improving maternal, neonatal and child health6,18,47,48 in various settings. Provision of contraceptive implants via outreach services has been found to be feasible and acceptable in two rural provinces of PNG49. Economic modelling suggests that investment in PNG of US $1.5–2 million annually between 2017–2020 towards scaling up supply of LARCs, implants in particular, had the potential to increase contraceptive prevalence to 50%. This would result in 100,000–200,000 fewer unintended pregnancies, 40,000–80,000 less unsafe abortions, and avoiding over 100 maternal deaths per year. This represents a cost-savings of US $2–3 million per year in direct pregnancy-related health care costs alone18.

Other service delivery changes suggested by our findings include better integration of FP information and services with other services where women of childbearing age are seen20,50,51,52,53,54, particularly integration of FP into postpartum and child health services55,56. High gravidity and short birth intervals among women in our study suggest there are missed opportunities to provide education, counselling and FP supplies at postnatal or child health visits, particularly for immunization. Use of mobile outreach services and community health workers57,58, innovative social marketing schemes32,59,60, voucher programs61,62,63, and home-based delivery of FP information and services integrated with other important MCH initiatives33 are all absent in our study area at present, and may present promising future solutions.

We also found differences in reported lifetime use of modern FP among the health facilities mothers were attending, which may reflect reduced accessibility to modern FP in certain church-administered services. This may be a significant limitation for families in rural areas who do not have access to a government provider, and it is important that alternative modes of FP service delivery for populations are implemented. Variations in access to FP may also reflect broader difficulties in the health system, for example in FP commodity supply chains. Improvement in facility-based services is a promising avenue for improvement in ENB Province, given that routine government monitoring data estimate that over 80% of women are able to access facilities for at least one ANC visit64.

In conclusion, we found very high rates of unintended pregnancy and very low modern FP use in the context of a resource-limited, high burden setting of poor MCH in rural PNG. The combination of low levels of knowledge, poor uptake, and very limited contraceptive choice highlights the urgent need for gender-inclusive, context-specific supply- and demand-side FP interventions at individual, family and community levels.