PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF UNWANTED PREGNANCY AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE (15-49 YEARS) IN RWANDA. FINDINGS FROM RWANDA DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY 2019-2020

Background: Unintended pregnancies are a significant public health concern worldwide. Eighty (38%) million of the 210 million pregnancies that take place each year over the world are unintended. More than 25% of all pregnancies in sub-Saharan Africa were unplanned, accounting for almost 10 million pregnancies annually (WHO, 2010).In Rwanda, unwanted pregnancies are a serious public health concern that had a significant impact on both mother and child health as well as wider socioeconomic effects. Twelve percent of pregnancies among women aged 15 to 49 were unintended, according to the 2019–2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS). Additionally, there is still unsafe abortion procedures, inadequate nutrition for both the mother and the unborn child, and elevated chances of maternal death all intimately linked to these pregnancies. unintended pregnancies caused psychological distress, major financial burdens, and disruptions to women's educational and professional paths. They also restricted women's chances for empowerment and involvement in socioeconomic activities, therefore perpetuating cycles of female inequality and poverty.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of unwanted pregnancies among Rwandan women