Oregon

The state of Oregon, on the western coast of the United States, was home to over 3,700,000 individuals in 2007. At that time, there were approximately 877,000 children under age 18. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the average number of children per Oregon families with children in the home was 1.87. Twenty-two percent of Oregon households were comprised of married couples with children. Six percent of all Oregon households were comprised of single mothers with children; this is slightly lower than the United States' average. Oregon's 2007 marriage rate was 7.1 per 1,000, which was slightly lower than the national average of 7.3 per 1,000. Oregon's 2007 divorce rate was 4.0 per 1,000, which was slightly higher than the national average of 3.6 per 1,000.

While most available data does not specify the motherhood status of the respondents, there is significant demographic data revealing Oregonians' life circumstances. Oregon mothers' lives are, to some extent, presumably reflected in this statistical information. Oregon's population is comprised of 93 percent Caucasian, 4 percent Asian, 2 percent African American, 2 percent Native American, and less than 1 percent Pacific Islander. Additionally, 9 percent of the population is from Hispanic ethnic origin. Since 2004, approximately 60 percent of new Oregon residents are members of racial or ethnic minority groups, predominantly Hispanic and Asian.

The median household income in Oregon in 2007 was $48,735; however, approximately 13 percent of Oregonians live in poverty. Over 12 percent of the population was unemployed in 2009. In 2008, 44,406 Oregonians received Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Minority group members, especially mothers, are disproportionately impoverished. The live birth rate for Oregon women was 13.2 per 1,000 in 2007. Thirty-five percent of these births were to unmarried women. Pregnancy rates for girls age 10–17 have been declining since the mid-1990s. In 2008, 9.7 per 1,000 girls experienced pregnancy. Abortion is legal in Oregon. Oregon has a number of government programs aimed at helping new mothers and their babies. These include Babies First!, a public health nurse home-visiting program meant for dis-advantaged children, and the development of a prenatal and newborn resource guide for Oregon families. Additionally, the Oregon Health Plan, the state's health care program, assists low-income mothers and children. This program has experienced cuts in funding and enrollment caps in recent years.