Unveiling the costs of unintended pregnancy

The impacts of unintended pregnancy are clearly wide-ranging. The most obvious consequences are the direct outcomes of the pregnancies themselves, whether births, abortions or miscarriages. It may be tempting, therefore, to measure the impacts by weighing two possible scenarios: one in which a woman invests her time and resources in a baby, versus one in which she invests in herself — but that is a false dichotomy. A woman who obtains an abortion may do so to invest limited resources in the children she already has. A woman denied the agency to choose pregnancy may also lack the means to invest in either herself or a baby. And a woman with ample economic resources may incur other costs, such as continued exposure to a violent partner.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Good Health and Well-Being

Gender Equality