Pregnancy Intentions and Its Effects on Mother and Child Health: A Study of Four South Asian Countries

Unintended pregnancies are prone to health risks not only mother but also to the child. These risks may turn to be fatal and life long. Therefore, planned parenthood is advocated in all the health initiatives. The studies have shown that the share of unintended pregnancies crossed 40 percent in some setting of developing countries. Thus, this paper aims to examine the level of unintended in the four South Asian countries, namely Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, and its consequence for mother and child health. Preliminary findings of this study show that the share of unintended pregnancies ranges between 24% in India to 37% in Nepal. Unintended pregnancies are less likely to receive Antenatal care as well to be delivered in institutional settings in these countries. Similarly, unwanted births were in disadvantageous state of immunization, breastfeeding and growth. The final version of the paper will carry immediate policy recommendations on the issue.