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Result 1: Improved Health Status for New Mexicans

P002: Births to teens aged 15-19 per 1,000 females aged 15-19

Current Value

29.4 per 1,000

2016

Definition

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Story Behind the Curve

  • Since 2012, the teen birth rate among 15-19 year olds in New Mexico (NM) has declined by 37% to 29.4 per 1,000. Despite this decline, New Mexico's rate is still among the highest in the nation. 
  • In NM, teen birth rates are highest for American Indians and Hispanics. Teens who drop out of school are more likely to become pregnant and have a child than peers who graduate. Nationally, 48% of teen mothers aged 15-19 live below the poverty level.  Some reasons for higher teen parenthood in mixed urban/rural areas include lack of health insurance, increased poverty, transportation barriers, and less access to services.
  • The New Mexico Department of Health Family Planning Program (FPP) collaborates with public health offices, school based health centers, and community clinics to provide access to clinical family planning services, contracts with schools and community organizations to provide youth development programming.
  • During FY18, FPP plans to promote clinical services with social media campaigns to increase knowledge about birth control and where to find services.  

Partners

  • Primary care clinics
  • Community-based clinical providers
  • Schools, after-school, and youth programs
  • Community-based organizations
  • County health councils
  • School-based health centers
  • Parent organizations
  • Policy makers
  • Centers for higher education
  • Indian Health Services
  • University of New Mexico
  • NM Higher Education Department
  • NM Public Education Department
  • NM Human Services Department
  • NM Children, Youth, and Families Department

What Works

  • Access to confidential, low- or no-cost family planning services through county public health offices, community clinics, and school-based health centers.
  • Telemedicine services to increase access to birth control for high risk populations in areas with clinician shortages.
  • Service-learning, positive youth development, and comprehensive sex education programs.
  • Adult-teen communication programs to give adults information and skills to communicate effectively with young people about reducing risky sexual behavior.

Strategy

  • Through shared-decision making counseling, increase teens’ access to birth control including the most effective contraceptive methods (implants & IUDs).
  • Incorporate service-learning programs consisting of community-based volunteer services and guided curriculum education.
  • Promote BrdsNBz, a text-messaging system that offers teens and parents free, confidential answers to sexual health questions in English or Spanish.

Clear Impact Suite is an easy-to-use, web-based software platform that helps your staff collaborate with external stakeholders and community partners by utilizing the combination of data collection, performance reporting, and program planning.

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