1. Unintended Pregnancy: New Estimates for the United States Lawrence B. Finer, Ph.D. Mia R.S. Zolna, M.P.H. RH 2010 September 25, 2010

2. Why study unintended pregnancy? Fundamental measure of a population’s reproductive health Helps us to know who is in need of improved services No stats on the U.S. unintended pregnancy rate since 2001 (51 per 1,000 women 15–44) New data on births, abortions, intendedness are available for 2006 (based on ’04–’08)

3. Definitions “Intended”: a pregnancy that was desired at the time (or sooner than) it occurred “Unintended”: The sum of… –“Mistimed”: a pregnancy that was wanted at some point, but occurred sooner than desired –“Unwanted”: a pregnancy that was not desired when it occurred or ever

4. Data sources MeasureIntendednessCounts BirthsNational Survey of Family Growth U.S. Vital Statistics AbortionsGuttmacher Abortion Provider Survey Guttmacher Abortion Provider Census; CDC abortion surveillance Fetal lossesNational Survey of Family Growth NSFG and Vital Statistics Population counts —U.S. Census Bureau; Current Population Survey

5. Results are preliminary Please do not cite or quote

6. Half of all pregnancies are still unintended

7. Unintended (and intended) pregnancy rates have increased 2001 2006 % of pregnancies unintended49% Unintended pregnancy rate5155 Intended pregnancy rate5356 % of unintended pregnancies ending in abortion 42%34% Unintended birth rate2326 Abortion rate2120

8. Unintended and intended pregnancy rates vary by age

9. Changes in unintended pregnancy rates vary by age

10. Unintended pregnancy rate: Declined among teens Increased among older women

11. Unintended pregnancy rate: Disparity by income is growing

12. Significant disparity by relationship status

13. Significant disparity by education

14. Significant disparity by race/ethnicity

15. Summary Half of pregnancies still unintended Unintended and intended preg rates increased –Teen U.P. rate declining, but most teen pregnancies are unintended –Large (and sometimes growing) disparities by income, relationship, education, race Decrease in percentage of unintended pregnancies ending in abortion More regular updates coming (2008 ests next year)

16. This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health