Unwanted and mistimed pregnancies impose threats on the health and well-being of the mother and child and limit the acquisition of optimal sexual and reproductive health services, especially in resource-constrained settings like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of mistimed and unwanted pregnancies among women in the DRC. Data were drawn from the 2013–14 DRC Demographic Health Survey (EDS-RDC II). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify correlates of mistimed and unwanted pregnancies. Sequential logistic regression modelling including distal (place of residence), intermediate (socio-demographic and socioeconomic factors) and proximal (reproductive health and family planning) factors was performed using multivariate analysis. More than a quarter (28%) of pregnancies were reported as unintended (23% mistimed and 5% unwanted). Women who wanted no more children (aOR 1.21; CI: 1.01, 1.44) had less than 24 months of birth spacing (aOR 2.14; CI: 1.80, 2.54) and those who intended to use a family planning method (aOR 1.24; CI: 1.01, 1.52) reported more often that their last pregnancy was mistimed. Women with five or more children (aOR 2.13; CI: 1.30, 3.49), those wanting no more children (aOR 13.07; CI: 9.59, 17.81) and those with more than 48 months of birth spacing (aOR 2.31; CI: 1.26, 4.23) were more likely to report their last pregnancy as unwanted. The high rate of unintended pregnancies in the DRC shows the urgency to act on the fertility behaviour of women. The associated intermediate factors for mistimed and unwanted pregnancy indicate the need to accelerate family planning programmes, particularly for women of high parity and those who want no more children. Likewise, health promotion measures at the grassroots level to ensure women’s empowerment and increase women’s autonomy in health care are necessary to address the social factors associated with mistimed pregnancy.

中文翻译：

---

刚果民主共和国妇女错时怀孕和意外怀孕的相关性

意外怀孕和不合时宜的怀孕对母婴的健康和福祉构成威胁，并限制了获得最佳性健康和生殖健康服务的机会，尤其是在刚果民主共和国 (DRC) 等资源有限的环境中。本研究旨在确定刚果民主共和国妇女中误孕和意外怀孕的发生率和相关性。数据来自 2013-14 年刚果民主共和国人口健康调查 (EDS-RDC II)。进行了双变量和多变量逻辑回归分析，以确定错时怀孕和意外怀孕的相关性。使用多变量分析进行包括远端（居住地）、中间（社会人口和社会经济因素）和近端（生殖健康和计划生育）因素的顺序逻辑回归模型。超过四分之一 (28%) 的怀孕被报告为意外怀孕（23% 不合时宜，5% 意外怀孕）。不想要更多孩子的女性 (aOR 1.21; CI: 1.01, 1.44) 的生育间隔少于 24 个月 (aOR 2.14; CI: 1.80, 2.54) 和打算使用计划生育方法的女性 (aOR 1.24; CI: 1.01, 1.52) 更频繁地报告说他们最后一次怀孕是错误的。有五个或更多孩子的女性（aOR 2.13；CI：1.30, 3.49）、不想要更多孩子的女性（aOR 13.07；CI: 9.59, 17.81）和生育间隔超过 48 个月的女性（aOR 2.31；CI: 1.26, 4.23) 更有可能报告他们上次怀孕是不想要的。刚果民主共和国的高意外怀孕率表明了对女性生育行为采取行动的紧迫性。与不合时宜和意外怀孕相关的中间因素表明，需要加快计划生育计划，特别是对于高产和不想要更多孩子的妇女。同样，需要在基层采取健康促进措施，以确保赋予妇女权力并增加妇女在医疗保健方面的自主权，以解决与错时怀孕相关的社会因素。