Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention
Statistics on Teen Pregnancy
Hip hip hooray! Since 2012, the teen pregnancy rate in Durham County has steadily declined. In 2022, the rate reached a historic low of 20.1 pregnancies per 1,000 females ages 15-19 in Durham County. This rate is lower than the previous state average of 22.1 pregnancies per 1,000 females in North Carolina. While the variance in rates among racial/ethnic groups continues to exist in North Carolina, Durham County’s overall decline reflects promising progress in our efforts to promote healthy behaviors and responsible sexual decision-making.
For more information on teen pregnancy statistics, visit the National Center for Health Statistics North Carolina.
Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention
The Durham County Department of Public Health is continuing to be dedicated to promoting healthy behaviors and responsible sexual decision-making in young people.
We offer research-based, fun and engaging programs that are designed to provide young people with the knowledge, confidence and skills that are needed to reduce their risk of pregnancy, sexual transmitted infections (STIs), and HIV.
Please read below to learn about the programs we offer: Making a Difference and Making Proud Choices.
Making a Difference!
Making a Difference! is an abstinence-based program that reduces pregnancy and STI/HIV risk-related behaviors by highlighting positive attitudes and beliefs regarding abstinence, abstinence negotiation skills, confidence in their ability to abstain from sex.
The goals of the program are to:
- Help young people change behaviors that place them at risk for pregnancy, STIs, and HIV.
- Delay the initiation of sex among sexually inexperienced youth.
- Reduce unprotected sex among sexually active youth.
- Help young people make proud and responsible decisions about sexual behaviors.
Audience: ages 12-17 for Making a Difference!
Making Proud Choices!
Making Proud Choices! is a safer-sex program that reduces pregnancy and STI/HIV risk-related behaviors by encouraging positive attitudes towards condom-use skills and confidence in their ability to use condoms.
The goals of the program are to help youth to:
- Have increased knowledge of about prevention of pregnancy, STIs, and HIV.
- Believe in the value of safer sex, including abstinence.
- Develop confidence in their ability to negotiate abstinence/safer-sex practices.
- Improve their ability to use condoms correctly.
- Have stronger intentions to use condoms if they have sex.
- Have a lower rate of HIV/STD sexual risk-taking behavior.
- Take pride in choosing responsible sexual behaviors.
Audience: ages 13 to 18 for Making Proud Choices!
Public Health
For additional Information:
Lakieta Sanders, Public Health Education Specialist