Nonmarital births in Oklahoma 1975-1995

This report uses data from the Oklahoma State Department of Health to describe past trends and current patterns of nonmarital births in Oklahoma. Between 1975 and 1995, the percentage of unmarried women delivering a live birth in Oklahoma increased from 12% to 31%. Adult nonmarital births increased faster than teen nonmarital births, but teens had a higher percentage of nonmarital births. White rates increased faster than African-American and Native American rates, but African-Americans had a higher percentage of nonmarital births. Unmarried women who give birth were more likely to be poor and lack education; additionally, they were less likely to receive early prenatal care, more likely to have had low weight births, and more likely to have had an unintended pregnancy. Birth outcomes are poorer among unmarried women, but this may be due to poverty and education rather than marital status alone.