Wanted and Unwanted Childbearing in the United States: 1973-88: Data From the National Survey of Family Growth

Abstract

For the 1st time since its inception in 1973 the US National Survey of Family Growth has documented an increase in unwanted births. Survey results indicate that of the 16.5 million births to ever-married women in 1983-88 5.8 million (35%) were unintended. Of these about 30% were unwanted and 70% were mistimed. This contrasts with a decline in the percentage of unwanted births from 14.3% at the time of the 1973 survey to 7.7% in the 1982 survey. Births were classified as unwanted if the respondent indicated she had not wanted a child at the time of conception or at any time in the future. Although the overall rate of unwanted births is now approximately 10% there are differentials in terms of age and race. The proportion of unwanted births has shown a consistent increase with age among ever-married women while mistimed births decrease with age. In 1988 the percentage of unwanted births was 8.6% in the 15-24-year age group 9.0% among women 25-34 years old and 17.6% among those 35-44 years of age. Another finding common to all 3 surveys is a higher proportion of unwanted births to black women than white women. Again in 1988 8.8% of births to ever-married white women were unwanted compared to 22.8% of births to their black counterparts. In formerly married women however the racial differential in unwanted births is not significant. Finally 10.7% of unwanted births in 1988 were to women below the poverty level; the rate was 17.4% among poor white women and 35.3% among poor black women. Among never-married women unwanted childbearing has declined for whites and increased for blacks. Higher rates of unwanted births among black women may reflect earlier onset of sexual activity lower attendance at family planning clinics and thus lower use of contraception.