What is Healthy People 2030 unintended pregnancy?
Healthy People 2030 (HP2030) is a national initiative that aims to improve pregnancy planning and prevent unintended pregnancies in the United States. Key points about HP2030’s approach to unintended pregnancy include:
- Goal: To reduce the proportion of unintended pregnancies among women16.
- Focus: Increasing the use of effective birth control methods, especially among women at risk of unintended pregnancy13.
- Specific objectives:
- Definition: HP2030 defines women “at risk of unintended pregnancy” as those who have ever had sex with a man, are not pregnant, not seeking pregnancy, not postpartum, and not sterile3.
- Measurement: Progress is tracked using the National Survey of Family Growth, with recent data showing 62.2% of women aged 20-44 and 53.3% of adolescents aged 15-19 at risk of unintended pregnancy using effective contraception3.
- Rationale: Unintended pregnancies are linked to negative outcomes for women and infants, including preterm birth and postpartum depression1.
However, it’s important to note that some scholars have criticized this approach, highlighting limitations in the conceptualization and measurement of unintended pregnancy, and arguing for a more person-centered approach to contraceptive access and reproductive health equity3.