County Profiles, Birth and Unintended Pregnancy Statistics, 1991 to 1998

This report, the third of its series, presents birth and unintended pregnancy statistics for each of Washington's 39 counties. Data include demographic and pregnancy-related indicators obtained from vital statistics, Medicaid administrative records, and survey data collected on a sample of women giving birth. Findings indicate that birth- and pregnancy-related measures 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. But in general, birth- and pregnancy-related measures 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.