Fewer Tennessee teens are getting pregnant, according to figures released this week by the Tennessee Department of Health, and Loudon County is leading the way in reducing the number of teenage pregnancies.
Loudon County's teen pregnancy rate of 22.6 per 1,000 females in 1995 has decreased to 11.6 in 1996. That's nearly a 50% decrease, one of the largest of any county in the state.
In 1996 the teen pregnancy rate also decreased statewide to 21.1 per 1,000 females, down from 22.8 in both 1994 and 1995.
In 1994 and 1995, Loudon County launched "Break the Cycle," a teen pregnancy prevention program, and implemented a prenatal education grant. Both programs were funded through what was then known as the Fort Sanders Community Health Improvement Initiative (now the Covenant Health Community Health Improvement Initiative) through the efforts of the Loudon County Health Improvement Council. The council is a grassroots organization working in partnership with Covenant Health and local community agencies to improve health and quality of life in Loudon County.
These education programs, now offered in every school in the county, may be significantly influencing teen behavior and paying tangible dividends in the lower rate of teen pregnancies.