Data from the 1988 NSFG indicate progress toward the target. The prevention of unintended pregnancy, including adolescent pregnancy, is a public health priority. Almost 60 percent of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended. Reducing the burden of unintended pregnancy requires a multifaceted approach. Goals include delaying the onset of sexual activity among young adolescents, encouraging the use of contraceptives among women at risk, improving male involvement, improving correct and consistent use of effective methods, encouraging dual method use when sexually transmitted disease risk is a concern, and providing wider access to emergency contraception.
Contraception is the keystone to the prevention of unintended pregnancy.
All contraceptive methods are cost effective when compared with the use of no method. It is estimated that publicly funded family planning services assist in averting up to 3.1 million unintended pregnancies each year. By helping families avoid unintended pregnancy and achieve optimal spacing of children, and by helping assure access to preconception education and care, early pregnancy diagnosis, and early prenatal care, family planning services play a critical role in reducing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. The public, policy-makers, and health providers need information about health benefits and cost savings in family planning. Clinical services and health education in family planning need to adopt communication industry expertise and consider the applicability of education and social marketing approaches used in other countries in order to get family planning messages widely disseminated.