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Birth and Unintended Pregnancy Statistics February 2001

This report, the third of its series, presents birth and unintended pregnancy statistics for each of the 39 counties in Washington State. These data include selected demographic and pregnancy-related indicators obtained from vital statistics, Medicaid administrative records, and survey data collected on a sample of women giving birth. A separate report (Community Services Office - CSO Profiles, 2000) presents these measures for geographies surrounding the Department of Social and Health Services Community Services Offices.

Numbers of births. The numbers of births in this report include all births, including those classified as fetal deaths, available through the First Steps Database. The average number of births fell slightly from 79,784 in 1991-92 to 77,657 in 1995-96. The number of births increased to 79,698 in 1998. Despite increased numbers of births, the birth rate among women ages 15-44 has steadily decreased, from 67.7 to 64.1 births per 1,000.

Births with Medicaid-paid maternity care. Pregnant women with family incomes at or below185% of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible for medical coverage through Medicaid in Washington State. The proportion of births to women with Medicaid-paid maternity care is an indication of a community's economic status. In 1998, 41.0% of Washington births were to Medicaid-eligible women. This proportion ranged from 29.7% in Snohomish County to 83.8% in Ferry County, reflecting economic differences within Washington.

Subsequent births within two years. The proportion of women who had a subsequent birth within two years decreased for all age groups from 1991-92 to 1995-96, both for the overall population of Washington women and for the subgroup of women receiving grant assistance. Among Washington women aged 15-39, grouped by age, the decrease in subsequent births ranged from 19.0% for women aged 30-34, to 30.2% for those aged 15-17. Among Washington women aged 15-39 and receiving grant assistance at the time of their earlier birth, the decrease ranged from a 21.5% decrease in the proportion of subsequent births for women aged 18-19, to a 28.5% decrease for women aged 20-24.

Unintended pregnancy statistics. This report provides several measures of unintended pregnancy: the number of abortions reported anonymously by state providers, abortion rates, and estimates of the number and rate of births from unintended pregnancy. Statewide and county rates of births from unintended pregnancy are applied estimates based on data from the Department of Health's annual Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey of approximately 3,000 women. The PRAMS survey contains a question on pregnancy intendedness. Births from unintended pregnancy includes births to women who stated their pregnancy was either mistimed (wanted later) or unwanted at the time of conception. County-level estimates of births from unintended pregnancies were adjusted for Medicaid status as a proxy for socioeconomic status. Using these estimates, in 1998 approximately 38% of all Washington births (28% Non Medicaid; 53% Medicaid) were unintended at the time of conception. Taking abortions into account, over one-half (53%) of all pregnancies in 1998 were unintended. Estimates of 1998 unintended pregnancy rates, including abortions, ranged from 41% in Garfield County to 59% in Jefferson County, with most (N=32) counties above 50%.

Number and Rates of Births and Abortions. The numbers and rates of births are reported for four two-year time periods, from 1991-92 to 1997-98, and for the single years 1997 and 1998. Rates are reported per 1,000 women. The birth rate for women ages 15-44 decreased from 67.7 in 1991-92 to 63.6 in 1997-98. The decrease was primarily among women less than 24 years old. Abortion rates also decreased during this time, from a rate of 24.6 per 1,000 women to 21.2 per 1,000 women.

Birth Rates at the County Level. Birth rates at the county level ranged from 33.9 to 109.0 per 1,000 in 1997-98. Seven counties (Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Okanogan, and Yakima) have birth rates of greater than 70 per 1000.

Conclusions
Birth- and pregnancy-related measures presented in this report vary by individual county. A wide range of differences in county characteristics such as mother's Medicaid status is reflected by differences in county birth rates, abortion rates, unintended pregnancies, and birth statistics. In general, however, birth- and pregnancy-related measures have exhibited a downward trend from 1991-92 to 1998. Birth rates, abortion rates, the proportion of unintended pregnancies, and the proportion of subsequent births within two years have all decreased in Washington State during this time period.

Modified: Tuesday January 17 2006

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