A Recommendation for Expanding Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs and Pregnancy Support Services in North Carolina Colleges & Universities
Public Deposited- Last Modified
- April 29, 2020
- Creator
-
Pless, Laura
- Affiliation: Gillings School of Global Public Health, Public Health Leadership Program
- Abstract
- Both the national and North Carolina teen birth rates are increasing for the first time in over a decade. Most of the statistics reported lump pregnant adolescents into a 15-19 year old age group, but the rate of increase can be primarily attributed to the older 18-19 year olds ("Reported Pregnancies," 2007). While teen pregnancy prevention programs have been largely successful in continually lowering birth rates and pregnancy rates over the last 20 years ("NC Teen Pregnancy," 2007), there is a gap or deficiency in pregnancy prevention programs and pregnancy support services offered at colleges and universities. This may be responsible for the recent increase in the number of pregnant adolescents attending college, and if left unchecked, could have significant financial implications for both the taxpayer and the pregnant young women. Pregnant adolescents often face birth complications, physical and psychological stress and financial hardships that jeopardize their health and pregnancy. Without adequate support services a pregnant teen often feels they have no choice but to abort their pregnancy or drop out of school. It is imperative that funds are appropriated by legislative action specifically aimed at creation and funding of new primary and secondary pregnancy prevention programs and pregnancy support services for this 18-19 year old age group. While some colleges have responded appropriately to this new challenge and should be looked at as model examples, many are as yet, unprepared, unwilling or unable to deal with this special needs population. Programs should be comprehensive and have specific goals, measurable objectives, and a means of evaluation. Successful programs should be considered for renewable multi-year funding based on outcomes.
- Date of publication
- May 2008
- DOI
- Resource type
- Rights statement
- In Copyright
- Note
- Paper type: Research or research design
- Advisor
- Harlan, Christina
- Reviewer
- Cromer, Sheila
- Degree
- Master of Public Health
- Degree granting institution
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Graduation year
- 2008
- Language
- Deposit record
- 564d1737-ca9b-4211-9c3e-c1926665c3df
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