Unintended pregnancy among women in the US military

Abstract

Background: The study was conducted to examine the extent of unintended pregnancy among female active-duty military personnel in the US Armed Forces.

Study design: Data consisted of representative data from active-duty women aged 18-44 years (n=3745) from the 2005 Department of Defense Survey of Health Related Behaviors Among Active Duty Military Personnel. The proportion of women with an unintended pregnancy in the last 12 months, the pregnancy rate and the percentage of all pregnancies in the last 12 months that were unintended were calculated.

Results: An estimated 54% of pregnancies were unintended, based on self-reports. After accounting for likely underreporting for abortion, the adjusted unintended pregnancy rate was 117 per 1000 women. Younger and less educated women had higher rates, as did enlisted women when compared to officers.

Conclusion: Further efforts are needed to reduce unintended pregnancy among women in the military.