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Georgia

The status of mothers in the U.S. state of Georgia varies widely depending on a woman's age, race, socioeconomic background, and geographic location. The state has a history of racism which has resulted in deep economic disparities between blacks and whites; and conservative government policies, which have resulted in limited subsidies for the poor as well as restricted information and access to abortion and sterilization.

These two factors have made certain populations particularly vulnerable to teen pregnancy, abortion, health complications during pregnancy and childbirth, and the impoverishment of mothers and their children. Young, poor, black women, in particular, are much less likely to have access to quality health care during pregnancy and adequate resources to care for their children once born.

Vital Statistics and Health Care

In 2006, the number of births per mother was 2.2 in Georgia, above the national average of 2.1. Georgia's mean age at first birth is 24.5, under the national average of 25. The rate of induced terminations of pregnancy per 1,000 women is 13.5 overall; 8.1 for white women and 23.1 for black women. The percentage of births to unmarried mothers was 42.4 percent overall—25 percent of white mothers, 67.8 percent of black mothers, and 48.6 percent of Hispanic mothers. In 2006, the teen birth rate in Georgia was 54.2 per 1,000 girls aged 15–19, the 10th highest in the nation (the national rate was 41.9). For women who gave birth in 2006, 32 percent were never married (versus 28.4 percent nationally); 27.9 percent were in poverty (compared to 25.2 percent nationally); 58.5 percent were in the labor force (versus 57.3 percent nationally); and 19.2 percent were not high school graduates (compared to 17.9 percent nationally). Despite the fact that 27.9 percent of women who gave birth were in poverty, only 3.5 percent of impoverished women who gave birth received cash public assistance.

The percentage of mothers beginning prenatal care in the first trimester is 83.3 percent overall—89.4 percent of white mothers, 78.9 percent of black mothers, and 73.3 percent of Hispanic mothers. The percentage of mothers with late or no care is 4.1 percent overall—2.3 percent of white mothers, 4.9 percent of black mothers, and 8.1 percent of Hispanic mothers. The rate of fetal deaths for fetuses over 20 weeks gestation per 1,000 fetal deaths plus live births is 8.3, 6.2 for white women and 12.3 for black women. Georgia ranks 46th among states based on the size of the gap in infant mortality by mother's education, when comparing the current overall state rate of 8.1 deaths per 1,000 live births with the lower rate—4.9 deaths per 1,000 live births—seen among infants born to the state's most educated mothers.

Georgia and the Law

Georgia has a large conservative and religious population with restrictive laws regarding reproduction. Georgia law allows individual providers to refuse women's health services for abortion and sterilization. Although the law requires insurance coverage of contraception, it also allows pharmacists to refuse to dispense contraception. In Georgia, the following restrictions on abortion were in effect as of January 2008: the parent of a minor must be notified before an abortion is provided; a woman must receive state-directed counseling that includes information on abortion and then wait 24 hours before the procedure is provided; and public funding is available for abortion only in cases of life endangerment, rape, or incest. In 2005, 92 percent of Georgia counties had no abortion provider (primarily rural counties) and 62 percent of Georgia women lived in these counties. Georgia requires abstinence-based sex education statewide.

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