All people in North Carolina live in communities that support healthy choices for family planning and have equitable access to high quality, affordable reproductive health services.
Teenage mothers are more likely to face higher rates of pregnancy-related morbidity, are less likely to receive prenatal care, and experience greater hardships that negatively impact their children’s life and their own. HNC 2030, p. 78
In 2018, the North Carolina teen birth rate for girls aged 15-19 was 18.7 per 1,000, ranking 23rd among US states. Teen birth rate is influenced by income level, educational attainment, childhood trauma, racial identity, and geography. Teenage pregnancy and birth are more common among girls from low income families and those with a history of adverse childhood experiences. African American, Hispanic, and American Indian girls give birth at rates 2-3 times higher than white girls and these girls are more likely to reside in under-resourced communities. Over the next 10 years, the goal is to reduce the number of teen births to 10 per 1,000, and to reduce racial disparities for this health indicator. HNC 2030 pp. 78-79
Helping Each Adolescent Reach Their Spark (H.E.A.R.T.S) |
https://www.heartsnc.org/ |
NC DHHS Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program |
https://www.teenpregnancy.ncdhhs.gov/appp.htm |
NC DHHS Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREPare) for Success |
https://www.teenpregnancy.ncdhhs.gov/prep.htm |
North Carolina Area Health Education Centers (NC AHEC) |
https://www.ncahec.net/about-nc-ahec/statewide-work |
North Carolina School Health Training Center (NCSHTC)-ECU |
https://hhp.ecu.edu/ncshtc/ |
Nurse-Family Partnership |
https://www.nursefamilypartnership.org/ |
Sexual Health Initiatives for Teens (SHIFT) NC- Gaston Youth Connected |
https://www.shiftnc.org/initiatives/gaston-youth-connected |
Teen Health Connection |
https://teenhealthconnection.org/teens-and-tots/ |
- Engage community. Community input is essential to understanding what issues are impacting unintended pregnancy
- Ensure access to information and services for youth sexual health
- Examine school sex education policies to ensure they include information on how to avoid teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Increase access to educational programs for youth in juvenile justice and foster care systems on pregnancy and STIs
- Increase access to long-acting reversible contraceptives, such as IUDs and implants, as well as condoms
- Increase education for teen mothers to prevent second pregnancies
- Make contraceptives available on-site in schools
- Require medically accurate sex education
NC State Center for Health Statistics, Vital Statistics
- Number of organizations in community that have similar interest in teens and reproductive health
- Number of teens in community
- Demographic profile of teens in community
- Number of middle and high schools
- Location of contraceptive health services (public and private)
- Number of youth-serving businesses
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