Maverick County Among Highest Teenage Pregnancy Rates in United States
By: Jose G. Landa, 2015 Copyright, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
Maverick County Hospital District Chief Executive Officer Terri Contreras-Patlan and Grants Writer Don Williams recently advised the MCHD Board of Directors that Maverick County has among the highest teenage pregnancy rates in the United States at 67.52 teen birth rates per thousand compared to 42.3 teen births per thousand in the State of Texas and 29 teen births per thousand in the United States, over twice the national teen birth rates, at their March 10, 2015 Special Board Meeting held in Eagle Pass, Texas.
Contreras-Patlan and Williams announced to the MCHD Board of Directors that they were partnering with other local governmental entities such as the Eagle Pass Independent School District, United Medical Centers, Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Southwest AHEC, Texas Department of Health and Human Services, Maverick County Juvenile Probation, South Central Area Education Health Center, Eagle Pass Boys and Girls Clubs, and Mrs. Elva Ledezma to apply for a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant to address the teen birth rate crisis in Maverick County through a collaborative effort.
According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, there were a total of 273,105 teen births to mothers between the ages of 15 years old to 19 years old in the United States during 2013.
In Texas, there were a total of 37,525 teen births to mothers between the ages of 15 years old to 19 years old during 2013.
Maverick County’s teen birth rate of 67.52 per thousand ranks among the highest in the entire United States, over twice the national average of 29 teen births per thousand.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Maverick County’s overall population is 55,932 in 2013. Of these, 32.5 percent of the population are under the age of 18 years old, or a total of 18,177 people under 18 years old.
“We have a tremendous teen birth rate problem in Maverick County, to the point of it being a community healthcare and social crisis,” said MCHD Grant Writer Don Williams. “There is a great need for the entire community and its entities to collaborate and join forces in attacking this teen birth rate dilemma in Maverick County,” said Williams. “The 67.52 teen birth rate per thousand in Maverick County is costing local healthcare entities, public entities, school district, and others an estimated $3 Million per year in costs,” added Williams
The Eagle Pass Business Journal research learned that one local high school currently has 40 students who are pregnant while the other high school figure was unavailable as of press time.
The Eagle Pass Independent School District has been dealing with this teen birth rate crisis in Maverick County for many years as most of the teenage mothers are attending public schools. However, many teen mothers drop out of school after getting pregnant or giving birth. The EPISD has managed a Childcare Program for teen mothers providing them with childcare and educational training on being a mother and caring for a child at its Kelso Street Center in order to prevent teen mothers from dropping out of school and becoming a greater social burden to society. Many teen mothers have successfully completed their high school diplomas and graduated under this program.
Williams suggest that there are many factors why Maverick County has one of the highest teen birth rates in the United States, including state cutbacks on women’s healthcare programs and a lack of community support programs addressing the importance of teenage sex abstinence and contraception methods.
The MCHD Board of Directors unanimously approved the Grant Application to be submitted by the MCHD through its partners and Grant Writer Don Williams.
Any local entity or organization interested in helping or getting involved in this U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant may contact Don Williams at (830) 776-3569.
