Peer-reviewed article
Long-term consequences of unintended pregnancy: Impacts on early childhood growth and development in a multicenter study.
Yanti L, Surtiningsih, Ardiyani FHN, Sekarini NNAD, Susanti D et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined how unintended pregnancy affects children's growth and development in Indonesia. Researchers compared 700 children aged 5 years or younger whose pregnancies were planned versus unplanned across four Indonesian regions. Children born from unintended pregnancies showed significantly higher rates of stunting, underweight, developmental delays, behavioral problems, and autism spectrum disorder. The findings suggest that improving access to family planning and prenatal care could help protect children's health and development.
Key points
- Unintended pregnancy had statistically significant effects on child growth (t = 8.178; P < 0.001) and development (t = 25.688; P < 0.001)
- Growth problems associated with unintended pregnancy included underweight, undernutrition, abnormal head circumference, and stunting
- Developmental challenges included behavioral and emotional disorders, autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and social and motor skill deficits
- Visual and hearing impairments were also prominently associated with unintended pregnancy
- Study was conducted across four regions in Indonesia: Central Java, Lampung, Bali, and West Nusa Tenggara
Limitations
This is an observational case-control study, so causation cannot be definitively established; other socioeconomic or family factors may explain some of the observed differences between groups. The document does not provide details on how confounding variables were controlled or how selection bias was addressed.
Abstract
Background Unintended pregnancy occurs when an individual or couple conceives without planning or desire, which can potentially affect a child's physical, mental, and social well-being. This can then lead to long-term socioeconomic challenges for families and communities. Although its impact on child growth and development is a pressing concern, research remains limited particularly in multicenter settings. Aim To examine the long-term consequences of unintended pregnancy on the critical years of early childhood growth and development. Methods This analytical observational study employed a case-control design and was conducted in research centers across Indonesia, encompassing those located in Central Java, Lampung, Bali, and West Nusa Tenggara. A total of 700 children aged ≤ 5 years with histories of intended or unintended pregnancies participated. Data collection involved structured interviews and direct anthropometric and developmental assessments. Data analyses were conducted using multivariate statistics and partial least squares structural equation modeling. Results Unintended pregnancy was found to have a statistically significant effect on both child growth (t = 8.178; P < 0.001) and child development (t = 25.688; P < 0.001). Key growth problems identified included underweight, undernutrition, abnormal head circumference, and stunting. Developmental challenges prominently associated with unintended pregnancy included behavioral and emotional disorders, autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, social and motor skill deficits, as well as visual and hearing impairments. Conclusion Unintended pregnancy significantly affects child growth and development, underscoring the need for early intervention, quality prenatal care, and strengthened family planning policies.