03/28/2024
Bladen County Health Department
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Bladen County Health DepartmentDuring the State of the County Health report, Bladen County Health Educator Marianne Valentiner said that teen pregnancy has been identified as an emerging issue.  She explained that in the 2015 Community Health Assessment, teen pregnancy was identified as an issue based on the statistical data from 2014. Valentiner said at the time of the Community Health Assessment, the 2014 data was the most recent data available.

Valentiner said according to the latest statistical data available, the teen pregnancy rate is as follows: in 2013 the rate was 36.9, in 2014 the rate increased slightly to 52.1, and in 2015, the rate dipped to 46.7. She said based on the overall trend from 2001 to 2015, the teen pregnancy rate has actually been steadily trending downward.

She said the Community Health Assessment is completed by county residents. Valentiner said the 2015 assessment was sent out electronically and people were allowed to submit paper copies as well. The county received 500 completed surveys from the which the data was compiled.

Valentiner said the emerging issue can change from year to year based on the data available. She said the Community Health Assessment is scheduled to take place in  2019.

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