Which is a risk factor for unintended pregnancy?

• A. Younger age
• B. Non-white
• C. Low income or education
• D. Inconsistent/nonuse of contraception

Answer: (D)

The main concept is that the most direct way to reduce or increase the risk of unintended pregnancy is whether contraception is used consistently with every act of intercourse. When contraception is used inconsistently or not at all, pregnancy can occur with each unprotected encounter, so inconsistent or nonuse is the strongest predictor of unintended pregnancy. Methods are highly effective when used every time and correctly, but many pregnancies happen because people forget, skip doses, or don’t use protection every time. The other factors may be linked to higher risk due to access or social factors, but they don’t explain the mechanism as directly as whether contraception is used consistently. So, inconsistent or nonuse of contraception best accounts for the risk.