Why is reducing the number of unintended pregnancies in Michigan important?

According to the Michigan Department of Community Health, if all pregnancies were intended:

• Abortion would almost be eliminated entirely.
• Teen pregnancies would be reduced by 79 percent. In Michigan in 2000, 14,317 girls ages 10 to 19 years gave birth. Teens have the highest percentage of unintended pregnancies in Michigan.
• Significant reductions in infant mortality, child abuse and neglect, and welfare dependence would be realized.

Unintended Pregnancies by Age and Socio-Economic Status

Young and impoverished women are disproportionately burdened by unintended pregnancies.

Unintended pregnancy rates highest among:

• women with an annual household income below 200 percent of federal poverty level
• unmarried women
• African American and Hispanic women

Young women between the ages of 20-29 years have the greatest number of unintended births. In FY 2000, they had more than 30,000 unintended births, which accounted for 42 percent of all unintended births.

70 percent of all teen pregnancies are unintended. In FY 2000, this represents nearly 11,000 unintended births.