HEALTH STATUS - Reproductive Health

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Unintended Pregnancies

Though the majority of births between 1990-1995 were intended, one in five was mis-timed, occurring sooner than desired, while nearly one in ten was unwanted. Of all births to women aged 20 and younger, more than half (54.5 percent) were mistimed. Over three-quarters of women aged 25 and older had an intended birth.

Approximately 70 percent of births were intended among White and Hispanic women, compared to less than half (48.6 percent) of births among Black women. A greater proportion of births among Black women were mis- timed or unwanted.


In 1995, 69% of all births were intended at the time of conception, 21.6% were mistimed, and 9.1% were unwanted. Among mothers under age 20, 34.3% of births were intended, 54.5% were mistimed, and 10.6% were unwanted. Among mothers ages 20-24, 61.1% of births were intended, 30.9% were mistimed, and 7.7% were unwanted. Among mothers ages 25-29, 77.8% of births were intended, 13.3% were mistimed, and 8.9% were unwanted. Among mothers ages 30-44, 80.1% of births were intended, 9.7% were mistimed, and 9.8% were unwanted.


In 1995, 69% of all births were intended at the time of conception, 21.6% were mistimed, and 9.1% were unwanted. Among non-Hispanic white mothers, 73.1% of births were intended, 20% were mistimed, and 6.7% were unwanted. Among non-Hispanic black mothers, 48.7% of births were intended, 31.3% were mistimed, and 19.1% were unwanted. Among Hispanic mothers, 69.7% of births were intended, 19.9% were mistimed, and 10.4% were unwanted.

 

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