Resolution 98-06

Unintended Pregnancy

Recognizing that an intended pregnancy is the best way to welcome a child into a family; and

Recognizing that unintended pregnancies affect the children, family and communities of Washington state;

  • An estimated 55% of all pregnancies and 40% of all births are unintended.
  • Unintended pregnancy is not just a problem of teenagers or unmarried women, but affects all segments of society; and

Recognizing that there are significant health and human consequences of unintended pregnancy;

  • Higher rates of maternal depression.
  • Higher risk of low birthweight babies.
  • Higher risk of child abuse and neglect.
  • Higher rate of abortion (2-4 times higher than other industrialized nations).
  • Couples who marry after conception are 3 times more likely to divorce.
  • 42% of unintended births are to unmarried women.
  • Children raised by one parent are more likely to drop out of school, have encounters with the criminal justice system, and are more likely to become teen parents;

Recognizing that there are serious economic consequences to the state of Washington due to unintended pregnancy;

  • In 1997, 42% of all births cost $165 million dollars.
  • 62% of births to women on Medicaid are unintended at an average cost of $5,255.
  • In 1994, state funds paid for 80% of all deliveries to adolescents for a cost of $31 million.
  • Department of Social and Health Services estimates the cost of unintended pregnancy to the Medical Assistance Administration at over $78 million per year.

Recognizing that impediments to having an intended pregnancy are the lack of reproductive health information and services, inadequate assessment interventions and the unavailability of contraception;

Therefore the Washington State Public Health Association resolves to:

  1. Support programs which increase access to women’s reproductive health care and pregnancy information and services.
  2. Support preventative measures which include pregnancy education and prescription drug and contraceptive coverage through Managed Care and all other insurance programs.
  3. Support adequate sexuality education.

Adopted by the vote of the Membership assembled at the 1998 Annual Business meeting of the Association, October 5, 1998 in Yakima, Washington.

Signed by: George Hilton, WSPHA President

References:

  1. Department of Health, Reproductive Health, 1993-1994.
  2. Department of Social and Health Services, Office of Research and Analysis, Program and Birth Report, 1997.
  3. Institute of Medicine, "Best Intentions," National Academy Press, 1995.
  4. Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Surveillance Report (PRAMS), 1993, 1994, 1995.