Release Date: May 5, 2010
Contact: Christine Patmon, Metro Health Public Relations Manager, 207-8638
Project WORTH Releases Latest Comparable Teen Pregnancy Data
Mayor and other elected officials highlight the community impact
Bexar County’s rate of births to school-age mothers ages 15 to 17 declined by 35 percent since 1994, but continues to be 73 percent higher than the national rate and just slightly above the overall state percentage. Project WORTH released the latest comparable data on teen pregnancy today as Mayor Julian Castro and various City, County and State elected officials detailed the impact on our local community.
Data from 2007 show 38.4 out of 1,000 births in Bexar County took place among females 15 to 17 years old. The birth rate is down from 58.9 in 1994, yet significantly higher than the national figure of 22.2. The overall rate in Texas stands at 35.2 out of 1,000.
“San Antonio’s future depends on healthy and educated young people,” said Mayor Castro. “We all want that future to be as bright and prosperous as it possibly can be and that demands that we work together on this issue today.”
Births to Bexar County females ages 10 to 14 are substantially lower than their older counterparts at 1.4 per 1,000 births. The rate is higher than the previous year, which barely saw one birth (0.9) per 1,000 for this age group. However, it is nearly half of the 1994 rate of 2.6 births. For babies born to all girls ages 10 to 19 years of age, the costs to Bexar County taxpayers was estimated at nearly $75 million in 2004.
“The economic costs are significant and result from a variety of sources including treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, and the management of low-birth weight and premature infants,” said Dr. Bryan Alsip, assistant director of Metro Health. “Unfortunately, these figures don’t capture the additional social costs associated with teen pregnancy, including the effects of children who are raised without a father - a reality all too common for babies born to teenage mothers.”
The 2007 data were released on National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, the highlight of May’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month observance. As part of its prevention and awareness efforts, Project WORTH is partnering with Healthy Futures of Texas and other community entities this month to host town hall meetings in virtually every sector of the city. Parents, teenagers and other stakeholders are encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be available. The events will take place on Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the following locations:
Westside Teen Pregnancy Prevention Town Hall Meeting
May 6 - Christian Hope Resource Center, 321 N. General McMullen
Southside Teen Pregnancy Prevention Town Hall Meeting
May 13 - Palo Alto College Performing Arts Building, 1400 W. Villaret
Eastside Teen Pregnancy Prevention Town Hall Meeting
May 20 - Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 1001 N. Walters
Teen Pregnancy Prevention YOUth Talk
May 27 - First Unitarian Universalist Church Fellowship Hall, 7150 IH-10 West
For more information and a detailed teen pregnancy report or fact sheet, click here or call 207-8850.
