Updated: February, 2024

Author: Family Planning Program, Vermont Department of Health

This indicator, or population measure, is part of our Healthy Vermonters 2030 data set. Read more about how this data helps us understand and improve the well-being of people in Vermont on the Healthy Vermonters 2030 webpage.

Because this data is meant to show how the health of our state changes during the decade from 2020-2030, some indicators may have very few data points for now. Keep checking back to see the progress our public health system and partners are making.

We want to see the percent of people experiencing unintended pregnancy to decrease to 33% or lower by 2030. The rate of unintended pregnancies among Vermonters has remained steady in recent years.

The target rate of 33% was selected as a moderate improvement on the baseline rate of 37%.

Looking for more data?

• Look at previous data on pregnancy intention from our 2020 Scorecards.
• See the corresponding national Healthy People 2030 objective for reducing the proportion of unintended pregnancies.

Unintended pregnancy is linked to outcomes like preterm birth and postpartum depression. The availability of family planning services allows people to choose when and how often to get pregnant, and contributes to improved health outcomes for infants, children, women, birthing people and families.

Preventing unintended pregnancies is an important part of several programs in the Division of Family and Child Health (FCH). These include support and referrals related to preconception health, interpregnancy intervals, family planning and contraceptive counseling. This work relies on the help of community and health care partners, the State of Vermont Pregnancy Intention Initiative (PII), and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.

Essential funding for family planning in Vermont comes from the federal Title X program. This program provides high quality family planning health services across the state through partnership with Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. This program ensures access to the full range of contraceptive methods, and education and counseling services.  Screening and referral for initmate partner violence is also provided to clients seeking family planning care. Access to a wide range of effective contraceptive methods is available across the state.

Although the percent of unintended pregnancies across Vermont is 37%, people from different populations and people living in different places may have different experiences with pregnancy and family planning. Some groups who have experienced higher rates of unintended pregnancies in the past include adolescents, people with low-incomes, people with disabilities, people living in rural areas, and people identifying as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color).

Disparities in unintended pregnancy rates are most often related to socio-economic status and race. This is due to people being historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. Advancing equity for all is a priority for the Title X Family Planning Services program. Title X ensures access to affordable confidential services regardless of one’s income or insurance status. Title X also provides confidential adolescent friendly services. About 12% of the Title X clients in Vermont are under the age of 20.

Some key strategies for advancing equity include things like removing barriers to accessing services, improving the quality of services, and providing services that are client centered.

One example of making services more client centered is addressing concerns specific to unique populations. Consent and confidentiality are two concerns for youth when seeking reproductive care. Linking them to youth-friendly health care services can reduce barriers to care and help prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections in this age group.

Increasing the use of birth control is critical for preventing unintended pregnancies. Birth control and family planning services can also help increase the length of time between pregnancies, which can improve health for women and birthing people and their infants.

Key strategies for improvement include:

• Collaborating with family planning service providers to ensure access to free or low-cost services for low-income people.
• Promoting use of the most effective methods of contraception.
• Supporting education and outreach around preventive health issues and services, preconception health counseling, and reproductive life planning.
• Aligning efforts to work with partners at a systems level.

Some of the partners we work with are the Pregnancy Intention Initiative, Department of Vermont Health Access, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Family and Child Health Coordinators in the Offices of Local Health across Vermont, health care providers, and many community partners.

Having adequate funding for programs and partners to work together is essential for improving family planning across the state. Publicly funded family planning services are a central part of the health care safety net. The Vermont Department of Health has used the federal Title X grant for nearly 50 years to improve family planning for people in Vermont. Title X is the only federal grant program dedicated to providing people with comprehensive family planning and related preventive services.

The Vermont Title X Family Planning Program goals are to:

• decrease unintended pregnancies;
• increase inter-pregnancy interval;
• improve access to the full range of contraceptive methods.

The Pregnancy Risk and Monitoring System (PRAMS) and Vital Statistics births and abortion data are used to calculate the unintended pregnancy rate.

PRAMS is a survey for people who had a recent live birth as determined from birth certificate files. Vermont samples between 1350-1550 individuals per year. The PRAMS survey uses a mailed questionnaire followed by a telephone survey, and also has a secure web-based option.

View the 2023 version of the PRAMS survey