North Central Health District

May is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month

Posted May 8, 2015 by NCHD Admin

May is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month

Written By: Valerie Hicks, District Youth Development Coordinator

While we observe Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month for 2015 in a celebratory climate based on tremendous numerical decline in teen pregnancy and birth rates, we are hopeful for greater results as we continue to provide awareness, prevention and intervention to youth, parents and communities.

Celebration is appropriate as teen birth rates for teenagers, ages 15-19, have declined 57% since 1991 according to the CDC. The teen birth rate in the United States is at a historic low for our nation.  Georgia continues to improve its rates as partnerships have been more intentional and strategic in its approach, thus maximizing use of federal resources.  Thanks to partners like Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential (G-CAPP), availing technology like a free App for teens to access local health clinics and family planning services empowers young people to make healthier intelligent sex choices.

Through the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), Bibb County is educating more teens about pregnancy & STD prevention and healthy relationships through evidenced-based curriculum training.  PREP is offered to afterschool programs, faith-based organizations, summer camps, foster homes and other community-based youth programs through the Office of Adolescent Health & Youth Development (AHYD) at the North Central Health District.  While PREP has been effective, it only serves a limited number of teenagers annually.   In order to decrease teen pregnancy and birth rates in Bibb County in significant numbers, we must provide sex education on a broader scale to reach more youth, which would be through the school system.  Unfortunately, Bibb County’s teen pregnancy & birth rates have not declined at the pace of the state and national levels.  In 2012, Georgia’s pregnancy rate was 44.1 per 1000 girls; Bibb County’s was 59.2 per 1000 girls.  As a result, Bibb County’s high school graduation rate has not experienced significant increase as many teen mothers simply drop out after giving birth with no follow-up from school officials or referrals for other educational options.  The evidence speaks for itself:  counties that incorporate evidenced-based sex education curriculums in the school system experience lower teen pregnancy rates and higher graduation rates.  Not only Bibb County schools, but all schools in the North Central Health District could improve their health, economic and educational status by providing sex education on a consistent basis.

The North Central Health District’s Family Planning Clinics are increasing their efforts to decrease teen pregnancy by providing Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC) to youth under age 20 at no cost to the client.

The Office of Adolescent Health & Youth Development (AHYD) will observe Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month by:

• continuing to provide PREP, the Office of AHYD will
• Providing an Awareness Campaign for 9^th & 10^th grade students in Crawford & Putnam Counties.
• Providing a Call to Action Tool Kit to 15 Macon-Bibb County churches in the 31206 area, which has the highest teen pregnancy and high school drop-out rates in Macon-Bibb County.
• Creating a Public Service Announcement (PSA) to be aired on urban radio stations in the Middle Georgia area during the month of May. .

So let’s celebrate our accomplishments this month, but press on toward greater achievement in 2016 through increased education, clinical services and collaboration with community partners & parents.