Birth and Unintended Pregnancy
Statistics For Community Services Offices, 1991 to 2002
Summary
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 wellbeing of
the CSO community at a given point in time. In 2001-02, 43.4% of all
Washington births were covered by Medicaid. The proportion of births
with Medicaid funding ranged from 15.8% in King East CSO (King County)
to 80.2% in Toppenish-Wapato CSO (Yakima County).
Non-citizens are
eligible for Medicaid coverage for pregnancy and delivery. The
proportion of births to non-citizens has increased from 3.1% in 1991-92
to 8.0% in 2001-02. This represents a nearly three-fold increase. Five CSOs demonstrated a ten-fold or greater increase in the proportion of
births to non-citizens.
Unintended pregnancy. An unintended pregnancy is a pregnancy which a
woman states was either mistimed (wanted later) or unwanted at the time
of conception. In 2001-02, for Washington State overall, 40.2% of all
births were unintended at the time of conception. The unintended
pregnancy rate ranged from an estimated 31% in King East CSO (King
County) to an estimated 53.2% in Republic Outstation (Ferry County).
Number and Rates of Births. The numbers and rates of births are reported
for five two-year time periods, from 1991-92 to 2001-02 and for two
subgroups of women: (1) women who lived in mostly low-income areas, with
at least 27% of the population at or below 185% of the FPL (referred to
as low-income women) and (2) women who lived in mostly higher-income
areas, with less than 27% of the population at or below 185% of the FPL
(referred to as higher-income women).
The statewide birth rate for women 15-44 decreased by 9% from 66.4
per 1000 in 1991-92 to 60.5 per 1000 in 2001-02. The birth rate for
young women, age 15-24, decreased by 24%, from 85.7 per 1000 in 1991-92
to 64.9 per 1000 in 2001-02. In 2001-02, birth rates for older women,
25-44, both low income and higher income, were essentially the same, at
58.7 and 58.4 per 1000. By 2001-02, the birth rate for young higher-income women (50 per
1000) was lower than that for older higher-income women (58.4 per 1000)
while the birth rate for young low-income women (84.4 per 1000) remained
higher than that for older low-income women (58.6 per 1000).
Birth Rates at the CSO Level. Birth rates for most CSOs are close to the
statewide rate of 60.5 per 1000 in 2001-02. Five CSOs are distinguished
by birth rates of greater than 90 per 1000. The five CSOs with the
highest birth rates had three factors in common: very high rates of
poverty, low educational attainment, and a high proportion of births to
Hispanic women. The five CSOs with the lowest birth rates demonstrated
less poverty, high educational attainment, and a low
proportion of births to Hispanic women. In the CSOs with the highest and
lowest birth rates, the differences between birth rates for women who
lived in mostly low-income areas and those who lived in mostly
higher-income areas were small. This suggests that, at least in these
ten CSOs, the community where people reside, its values, and beliefs,
may be a greater influence on birth rates than income per se.
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.
Download
Click on the PDF symbol
to the left and download the fact sheet: "CSO Profiles; Birth and Unintended Pregnancy Statistics For Community Services Offices, 1991 to 2002"Publication Date:
8/2005. Report Number 9.77. (KB 7,470)
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Copyright 2004 Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.
CSO Profiles
