Pregnancies and live births, active component service women, U.S. Armed Forces, 2012-2016

This report summarizes data on the demographic and military characteristics of women and women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) in the active component of the U.S. Armed Forces during 2012-2016. Data on pregnancy-related care and birth rates are also presented. In 2016, WOCBP comprised the vast majority of active component service women. The largest proportions of WOCBP were in the categories of women who were 20-24 years old, non-Hispanic white, junior enlisted rank, and in a communications/intelligence occupation. WOCBP were roughly equally distributed in the Army, Navy, and Air Force, whereas only 7.5% served in the Marine Corps. Slightly more than one-quarter of WOCBP had ever deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility (CENTCOM AOR). In 2016, 13.1% of all WOCBP had at least one pregnancy-related event and 1.1% of deployed WOCBP had a pregnancy event during a deployment to CENTCOM AOR. The prevalence of pregnancy decreased slightly over the surveillance period. There were 63,879 live births during the surveillance period, for an overall live birth rate of 64.9 live births per 1,000 person-years (p-yrs). This rate of live births decreased steadily from 69.8 per 1,000 p-yrs in 2012 to 59.7 per 1,000 p-yrs in 2016. Rates of live births were highest among women who were 30-34 years old, enlisted or junior officer rank, Army, in healthcare occupations, and married. About one-quarter of the total live births were cesarean deliveries.