“Ten years ago, Delaware had the highest rate of unplanned pregnancies in the U.S. — 57% of pregnancies were unintended. A decade later, Delaware has transformed its health care system and reshaped contraceptive access across the state. By integrating reproductive care into primary care, we’re empowering Delawareans to become pregnant only if and when they want to.
From 2014 to 2017, unplanned births dropped 25% in Delaware, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At the same time, Delaware saw a 37% decline in the abortion rate, the most significant drop of any state in the country and more than four times the national decline.
This remarkable progress is linked to our comprehensive effort to increase access to birth control for all Delawareans. The state of Delaware under Governors Jack Markell and John Carney partnered with the nonprofit Upstream USA and our Division of Public Health and the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance to work with thousands of providers across the state. Rather than limiting or banning contraceptives or abortions, we ensured access and care for all patients, one health center at a time.”