In This Issue:

Remarkable 10% Decline in Teen Birth Rates

Youth Risk Behavior: New Data

Teen Circle

The latest Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System report from the CDC has promising findings for some risk behaviors, but many high school students engage in health risk behaviors.

In the 30 days before the survey, 41.4% of high school students had texted or emailed while driving; 34.9% had drunk alcohol, and 15.7% smoked cigarettes. Nearly half (46.8%) of high school students had ever had sex.

Of those who were sexually active, 59.1% used a condom during their last sexual encounter. Overall, the percentage of high school students who have had sex has declined from 54.1% in 1991 to 46.8% in 2013 - a 13.5% decrease.

In Texas, we see that the percent of students that had ever had sexual intercourse decreased from 50.4% in 2001 to 45.9% in 2013, which means that more teens are waiting to engage in sexual activity until they are older. However, the data also show that the percent of students that say they did not use any method to prevent pregnancy increased, from 14.6 percent to 19 percent from 2009 to 2013. Texas students also reported that 20.6 percent have never been taught in school about AIDS or HIV infection.

These national, state, and large urban schools district surveys are conducted every two years among high school students throughout the US to monitor a wide range of priority health risk behaviors. Texas results are available, as are results for Dallas and Houston. However, too few high school students in San Antonio participate to allow valid interpretation.

Remarkable 10% Decline in Teen Birth Rates in 2013

The nation has seen historic declines in teen pregnancy and childbearing in the past two decades. All 50 states and all racial and ethnic groups have seen continued declines since the peak rates of 1991. According to new data from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, both the rate and number of teen births in the United States are at historic lows.

The preliminary 2013 birth data show a rate of 26.6 births per 1,000 females 15 to 19, an amazing 10% drop in just one year. Birth rates for younger teens (age 15 - 17) declined 13%, and the birth rate for older teen declined by 8% in 2013. The teen birth rate has declined an astounding 57% since 1991.

The 2013 state rankings are not yet available, but in 2012, Texas was #5 among the states for teen birth rates, and #1 for repeat teen birth.

With all this progress, it may be tempting to think that we have done enough. But much work still remains. Teens in high-risk populations need access to programs and clinical services to help them make healthy decisions. And every year, there are new teenagers who need good information and encouragement. Healthy Futures of Texas continues to be dedicated to reducing teen and unplanned pregnancy in San Antonio to help young people protect their dreams.

Contraceptive Effectiveness

When women and couples are deciding on a method of contraception, effectiveness is often a primary factor that is considered. The above image, promoted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, helps to simplify and clarify contraceptive effectiveness.

The most effective methods include permanent methods (sterilization) and reversible methods. The subdermal implant (Nexplanon®) and intrauterine devices (IUDs, including ParaGard®, Mirena®, and Skyla®) are long-acting reversible contraceptives or "LARCs". These methods can last for up to ten years after insertion and are considered by experts to be appropriate for most women and adolescents, whether they have had children previously or not. The implant and IUD both have failure rates less than 1% per year because they don't require user intervention. LARCs are often called "low-maintenance" methods because women can "set it and forget it."

The Contraceptive CHOICE Project showed that, by removing barriers to LARCs, 3 out of 4 women choose them. Satisfaction is higher with LARCs, as well, and there is no increase in sexual risk-taking. Importantly, effectiveness was high: women taking birth control pills had 20 times the number of pregnancies that LARC users did. By giving women information about LARCs, and providing LARCs for free, researchers were able to reduce the rates of both unplanned pregnancy and abortion.

The only method of contraception that prevents transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is the condom. LARCs do not prevent STIs, and additional measures, such as consistent and correct condom use, are needed to reduce STI risk.

News from The Children's Shelter

The Children's Shelter is excited to announce its newest services offered under the iParent SA® program: Teen HOPES. Teen HOPES, a part of the Metro Health 1115 Waiver project, offers up to one year of case management services for teen moms age 18 and younger who have delivered a child within the previous 12 months.

Services include:

Weekly or bi-weekly home visits for 1 year (may be extended to 2 years)
Case management
Parenting education utilizing the Parents as Teachers curriculum
Basic needs support
Group connections
Mental health counseling

With the support of parent educators, teen mothers create a reproductive life plan to identify methods for birth spacing and postpone subsequent pregnancies. In addition, parent educators complete assessments and screenings to identify the following: postpartum depression, domestic violence, and past trauma.

Family strengthening programs such as iParent SA® Teen HOPES help increase protective factors while decreasing risk factors that may lead to child abuse and neglect.

For more information please contact Natalie Lopez at 210-212-2597 or nlopez@chshel.org.

Healthy Futures of Texas is committed to reducing teen and unplanned pregnancy in San Antonio

and Texas by providing and promoting science-based and culturally appropriate approaches.

We are working toward a community where every young person is able to reach their potential, and

every child is wanted, loved, and cared for.

2300 W. Commerce St., Ste. 203/204

San Antonio, Texas, 78207

210.223.4589

info@hf-tx.org

HF-TX.org