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CSO Profiles 

Birth and Unintended Pregnancy Statistics for Community Services Offices, 1990 to 1997 

Many diverse communities comprise Washington State. The communities described in this report represent the neighborhoods surrounding the Department of Social and Health Services Community Services Offices (CSOs). This study portrays characteristics of the female population residing within the CSO boundaries and subgroups of the total population. The measures reported pertain most directly to women in their typical child-bearing years, from age 15 to age 44.

Medicaid coverage of births. Pregnant women with family incomes at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible for medical insurance coverage through Medicaid in Washington. The proportion of births funded by Medicaid directly reflects the economic well-being of the CSO community at a given point in time. In 1996-97, 42.2% of all Washington births were covered by Medicaid. The proportion of births with Medicaid funding ranged from 17.3% in Eastside CSO (King County) to 84.8% in Wapato CSO (Yakima County).

Unintended pregnancy. An unintended pregnancy is a pregnancy which a woman states was either mistimed (wanted later) or unwanted at the time of conception. The Washington Department of Health and the Department of Social and Health Services share a common objective of reducing unintended pregnancies in Washington State by three percent per year. In 1996-97, for Washington State overall, 38% of all births were unintended at the time of conception. The unintended pregnancy rate ranged from an estimated 31% in Eastside CSO (King County) to an estimated 50% in Wapato CSO (Yakima County).

Number and Rates of Births. The numbers and rates of births are reported for four two-year time periods, from 1990-91 to 1996-97 and for two subgroups of women: (1) Grant Women (who were receiving cash grants (i.e., AFDC or TANF) at the time they became pregnant) and (2) Non-Grant women (all other women, including some Medicaid women and higher income women). For women ages 15-44, the birth rate for Grant women was lower than that for Non-Grant women in each of the four time periods. The birth rate for Grant women decreased from 64.3 per 1000 in 1990-91 to 61.2 per 1000 in 1996-97. The birth rate for Non-Grant women decreased slightly from 69.4 per 1000 in 1990-91 to 63.8 in 1996-97.

Birth Rates at the CSO Level. Birth rates for most CSOs are close to the statewide rate of 62.7 per 1000 in 1996-97. Seven CSOs are distinguished by birth rates of greater than 90 per 1000. The seven CSOs with the highest birth rates had three factors in common: very high rates of poverty, low educational attainment, and a high proportion of Hispanic women among women giving birth.

CONCLUSIONS. The findings emphasize the importance of considering community values and cultural differences in family planning activities. The communities and subgroups of Washington State have diverse values and beliefs. Family planning information and education need to be available to all women so that every woman is able to make informed decisions based on her personal values.

Modified: Thursday November 17 2005

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