The Geography of Unintended Pregnancy
About half of the of the 6.7 million pregnancies in the U.S. each year are unplanned, according to a new state-level analysis by the Guttmacher Institute. The unintended pregnancy rate is a standout in the industrialized world, and has remained nearly flat since the 1980s despite advances in birth control technology and availability.
Socioeconomic Factors and Public Cost
Women with incomes at or below the federal poverty line are five times more likely than those at the highest income levels to become pregnant by accident — and unintended pregnancies have become increasingly clustered among the poor in recent years. Most of the births resulting from unplanned pregnancies are publicly funded, and they aren’t cheap.
Affirm: Sexual and Reproductive Health for All
Affirm is a non-profit organization dedicated to making sexual and reproductive healthcare accessible to everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from. Their work focuses on comprehensive healthcare initiatives, including:
- Title X Services
- Birth Control Methods
- Preconception Care Insights
- Adolescent Champion Model
- Arizona Alliance for Adolescent Health
Data Overview: Unintended Pregnancy Statistics
- Total Annual Pregnancies: 6.7 million
- Rate of Unplanned Pregnancies: About half of the of the total volume
- Income Disparity: Five times more likely for women at or below the federal poverty line
- Financial Support: This initiative is supported by a financial assistance award totaling $6.1 million with 100 percent funded by OPA/OASH/HHS
The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by OPA/OASH/HHS, or the U.S. Government. This website is supported by the Office of Population Affairs (OPA), in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).