May 21, 2021
Throughout the month of May, Denver Health joins organizations across the country in participating in National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. Hosted annually in May by the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services’ Office of Population Affairs, it celebrates the historic decline in rates of teen pregnancy and births in the United States, while highlighting the work that still needs to be done to help adolescents reach their full potential.
The month is about more than preventing teen pregnancy, it is about connecting adolescents to services and opportunities and ensuring positive outcomes. When we work to prevent teen pregnancy, we help youth achieve their full potential.
Denver teen birth rates have declined 69 percent since 2008, from 1,070 to 329 annual births (2008 to 2019). While Denver continues to see steady declines in teen births, the rate of 19 births per 1,000 teenagers remains higher than the Colorado and U.S. birth rates and disparities remain across populations. Specifically, the birth rates are highest for Hispanic/LatinX teenagers at 26.4 per 1,000, followed by 19.7 per 1,000 for Blacks and 5.5 per 1,000 for White (non-Hispanic) teens ages 15-19 in 2019.
Denver Health providers, health educators, nurses and medical assistants do a remarkable job to eliminate barriers to care including providing family planning services throughout our clinics, including at our School-based Health Centers and our Public Health Clinics.
Consistent with Denver Health's core value of equity, we are proud to have implanted a system that provides comprehensive, well informed care to all of our patients. Our team is available to discuss reproductive health, puberty, healthy relationships, consent and contraceptive decision-making with teens and young adults.
The month is about more than preventing teen pregnancy, it is about connecting adolescents to services and opportunities and ensuring positive outcomes. When we work to prevent teen pregnancy, we help youth achieve their full potential.
Denver teen birth rates have declined 69 percent since 2008, from 1,070 to 329 annual births (2008 to 2019). While Denver continues to see steady declines in teen births, the rate of 19 births per 1,000 teenagers remains higher than the Colorado and U.S. birth rates and disparities remain across populations. Specifically, the birth rates are highest for Hispanic/LatinX teenagers at 26.4 per 1,000, followed by 19.7 per 1,000 for Blacks and 5.5 per 1,000 for White (non-Hispanic) teens ages 15-19 in 2019.
Denver Health providers, health educators, nurses and medical assistants do a remarkable job to eliminate barriers to care including providing family planning services throughout our clinics, including at our School-based Health Centers and our Public Health Clinics.
Consistent with Denver Health's core value of equity, we are proud to have implanted a system that provides comprehensive, well informed care to all of our patients. Our team is available to discuss reproductive health, puberty, healthy relationships, consent and contraceptive decision-making with teens and young adults.
