Tuesday, May 13, 2025
5/13/2025
Optimally Changing the Map of Teen Pregnancy in Indiana - The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) has an immediate need to further address the health of adolescents and young adults and optimally change the map of teen pregnancy across the state. ISDH is committed to reducing teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases through a three-pronged approach that targets the greatest areas of need while using multiple leverage points to maximize impact for Indiana’s youth. In 2018, the United States’ teen birth rate of 17.4 per 1,000 females aged 15 - 19 (Martin et. al, 2018) remains much higher than other industrialized countries (Sedgh et. al, 2015). In Indiana, the teen birth rate in 2018 was even higher than our national rate at 21.6 per 1,000 females aged 15 - 19 (with a 5-year aggregate rate of 24.4). Despite Indiana’s steady decline in teen pregnancy rates over the past five years, the birth rates for Hispanic (31.3) and non-Hispanic black teens (41.2) are significantly higher than the teen pregnancy rates of their non-Hispanic white counterparts (18.4). (ISDH Infant Mortality Report, 2018). Teen pregnancy rates in Indiana are highest in rural settings (27.0) compared to urban settings (20.2) with multiple rural counties reporting rates around 45 per 1,000 females aged 15-19 in 2018. In addition to high teen birth rates, Indiana also has seen an increase in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Nationwide, adolescents and young adults ages 15 - 24 account for nearly one-half of all new cases of STDs (CDC, 2019) and Indiana is no exception. STDs across the state surged for the fifth straight year, reaching an all time high in 2018 (ISDH STD, 2019). Notably, there were 34,926 cases of Chlamydia (a 22% increase since 2014) and 12,193 cases of Gonorrhea (a 67% case increase since 2014). In 2018, a shocking 67% of reported Chlamydia cases and 46% of reported Gonorrhea cases occurred in adolescents and young adults ages 15 - 24 (ISDH STD, 2019). Indiana saw non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black youth reporting more cases of STDs than Hispanic teens and young adults. The highest rates of STDs were reported in urban areas, with the most cases reported in the central Indiana region where our populous capital city is located. At the Indiana State Department of Health, our adolescent team is growing and well-positioned to address the disparities and needs across the state by implementing a creative and innovative approach to lower teen pregnancy and STD rates for Hoosier youth. ISDH will use a multi-level, multi-faceted approach that addresses all five of the essential components of adolescent health identified in Think, Act, Grow. This approach will include: 1) using a LifeSkills curriculum to engage youth learners and provide a safe space to learn, 2) hosting Parent and Teen Cafes created by Be Strong Families to enable positive connections with supportive people and engage learners and leaders, and 3) implement the Adolescent Champion Model by the University of Michigan to provide youth with high-quality, teen-friendly care and coordinated adolescent and family-centered services. We are confident that our three-pronged approach combined with our new and existing partnerships and reach will have a lasting impact to optimally change the map of teen pregnancy in our state.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).