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PHOM Indicator Report of Adolescent BirthsWhy Is This Important?Research indicates that bearing a child during adolescence is associated with long-term difficulties for the mother, her child, and society. These consequences are often attributable to poverty and other adverse socioeconomic circumstances that frequently accompany early childbearing.Compared to babies born to older mothers, babies born to adolescent mothers, particularly young adolescent mothers, are at higher risk of low birthweight and infant mortality. These babies are more likely to grow up in homes that offer lower levels of emotional support and cognitive stimulation, and they are less likely to earn a high school diploma. For the mothers, giving birth during adolescence is associated with limited educational attainment, which in turn can reduce future employment prospects and earning potential. Birth Rate for Females Aged 15-19 by Race, Utah, 2011  Data SourcesUtah Birth Certificate Database, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Utah Department of Health Population Estimates by Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin for Counties in Utah (2010 Census), U.S. Bureau of the CensusData NotesU.S. data is preliminary for 2011.Risk FactorsExperiencing birth during adolescence can increase a teen's risk of acquiring a sexually-transmitted infection as well as seriously hinder future financial stability due to limited educational attainment.How Are We Doing?The teen birth rates per 1,000 females aged 15-19 in Utah, for the past five years were:2007: 35.3 2008: 34.6 2009: 30.8 2010: 27.8 2011: 23.1 A high proportion, 76.2% of Utah females aged 15-17 and 71.0% of Utah females aged 18-19 reported their pregnancy as unintended in the 2010 Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring Survey (PRAMS). What Is Being Done?The Utah Department of Health Maternal and Infant Health Program (MIHP) continues to work on improving the health of Utah adolescents. MIHP oversees the Utah Adolescent Health Network, a group of diverse stakeholders of adolescent health from government, academic, non-profit, and community organizations. Quarterly network meetings serve as a venue for overall adolescent health professional development training. Meetings include a presentation or training by an expert in a general adolescent health topic, presentation discussion, and member networking and project sharing. In 2010, the network completed and released a state report: Utah Adolescent Reproductive Health Report. This report provides a snapshot of reproductive health issues pertaining to Utah adolescents. This report is available electronically on the following website: http://health.utah.gov/mihp/pdf/2010_Adolescent_Health_Update.pdf.Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs: The Utah Department of Health receives federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families for two programs addressing teen pregnancy prevention in Utah. The first program is for Abstinence Education Programs targeting Utah youth ages 10-16 with a specific focus on youth in the Utah Juvenile Justice System, youth of Hispanic origin and/or non-White race, and youth residing in areas with adolescent birth rates higher than Utah's state rate. Total annual funding awarded to Utah is $410,089. Through a competitive bid process, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) sub-contracted these federal funds to several community organizations. The second program is for Personal Responsibility Education Programs (PREP). Funds must be used for a program designed to educate adolescents on both abstinence and contraception to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, and three adulthood preparation subjects (healthy relationships, education and career success, and healthy life skills). Total annual funding awarded to Utah is $544,497. Through a competitive bid process, the Utah Department of Health sub-contracted these funds to several community organizations. The target population is Utah youth ages 14-19 with a specific focus on youth in the Utah Juvenile Justice System, youth of Hispanic origin and/or non-White race, current teen moms, and youth residing in areas with adolescent birth rates higher than Utah's state rate. For more information or questions regarding the two programs mentioned above, contact 801-538-9317, or jmcgrath@utah.gov. Date Indicator Content Last Updated: 12/27/2012Other Views
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