Citation

Henshaw SK. Fam. Plann. Perspect. 1998; 30(1): 24-9, 46.

Affiliation

Alan Guttmacher Institute, New York, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Alan Guttmacher Institute)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9494812

Abstract

Data from the 1982, 1988, and 1995 cycles of the National Survey of Family Growth, together with data from other sources, were used to estimate 1994 rates and percentages of unintended birth and pregnancy and the proportion of women who have experienced an unintended birth, abortion, or both. Excluding miscarriages, 49% of the pregnancies occurring in 1994 were unintended, 54% of which ended in abortion. 48% of women aged 15-44 in 1994 had had at least one unplanned pregnancy at some point in their lives, 28% had had one or more unplanned births, 30% had had one or more abortions, and 11% had had both. At 1994 rates, women can expect to have 1.42 unintended pregnancies by the time they are 45 years old, and at 1992 rates, 43% will have had an abortion. However, between 1987 and 1994, the unintended pregnancy rate fell by 16%, from 54 to 45 per 1000 women of reproductive age. The proportion of unplanned pregnancies which ended in abortion increased among women aged 20 years and older, but decreased among teenagers. The unintended pregnancy rate was highest among women who were aged 18-24 years, unmarried, of low-income, and Black or Hispanic. The rates of unintended pregnancy have declined probably due to higher contraceptive prevalence and the use of more effective methods.

Language: en