Status: Baseline only
Most Recent Data:
43.0
percent
(2013)
Target:
36.5
percent
Desired Direction:
Decrease desired
Baseline:
43.0
percent of pregnancies among women aged 15 to 44 years were unintended in 2013
Reduce the proportion of pregnancies that are unintended
Data Sources: National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), CDC/NCHS; National Vital Statistics System - Natality (NVSS-N), CDC/NCHS; Surveillance Data for Abortion, CDC/NCCDPHP; Guttmacher Institute Abortion Provider Census (APC), Guttmacher Institute; Guttmacher Institute Abortion Patient Survey (APS), Guttmacher Institute
Summary
Women who have unintended pregnancies are more likely to delay prenatal care, experience violence, and have mental health problems. In addition, children of women who have unintended pregnancies are at increased risk for mental and physical health problems — and they’re more likely to struggle in school. Rates of unintended pregnancies are decreasing overall, but disparities by race/ethnicity, age, income, and education level remain. Interventions to increase the use of birth control are critical for preventing unintended pregnancies.
Topics: Family Planning, Pregnancy and Childbirth, Women
Workgroup: Family Planning Workgroup
