Data and Statistics: Need for Contraceptive Services Among Women of Reproductive Age

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) includes questions in the Family Planning Module to understand contraceptive use. Data collected in 2017 and 2019 from 45 jurisdictions were used to estimate the proportion of women aged 18 to 49 years who were at risk for unintended pregnancy and had ongoing or potential need for contraceptive services. (Need for Contraceptive Services Among Women of Reproductive Age — 45 Jurisdictions, United States, 2017–2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2021;70:910–915.)

Fast Facts

76.2% of women aged 18 to 49 years in the 45 jurisdictions were at risk for unintended pregnancy, ranging from 67.0% (Alaska) to 84.6% (Georgia).
60.7% of women had ongoing or potential need for contraceptive services, ranging from 45.3% (Puerto Rico) to 73.7% (New York).
For all jurisdictions combined, the proportion of women who had ongoing or potential need for contraceptive services varied significantly by age group, race/ethnicity, and urban-rural status.

Jurisdiction-level data are important for planning, enhancing, and evaluating efforts to improve contraception access and services. Improving these services is an important strategy for preventing unintended pregnancies and to promote equitable reproductive health.

View or download estimates by sociodemographic characteristics, for each jurisdiction.

Women were considered to be at risk for unintended pregnancy unless they reported 1) not being sexually active with a male partner, 2) being currently pregnant or seeking pregnancy, 3) not minding being pregnant, or 4) having had a hysterectomy. Women with ongoing or potential need for contraceptive services were defined as women considered to be at risk for unintended pregnancy who were not using permanent contraception (female sterilization or male partner vasectomy). The number of women with ongoing or potential need for contraceptive services can be used to estimate how many women might seek services.

Page last reviewed: June 24, 2021

Content source: Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion