CONTEXT: Traditional methods of identifying areas in need of adolescent pregnancy prevention programs may miss small localities with high levels of adolescent childbearing. METHODS: Birthrates for 15-17-year-olds were computed for all California zip codes, and the zip codes with birthrates in the 75th percentile were identified. Panels of local experts in adolescent pregnancy reviewed these "hot spots" for accuracy and grouped them into potential project areas, based on their demographics, geography and political infrastructure. RESULTS: In all, 415 zip codes exceeded the 75th-percentile cut-off point of 62.8 births per 1,000, and 210 of them differed significantly from the state average of 44.5 per 1,000 for 15-17-year-olds. While all had high adolescent birthrates, they varied greatly in racial and ethnic mix, poverty and educational attainment, and certain perinatal measures such as inadequate prenatal care and repeat pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The use of zip code-level data holds promise for more effective program planning and intervention.
CONTEXT: Traditional methods of identifying areas in need of adolescent pregnancy prevention programs may miss small localities with high levels of adolescent childbearing. METHODS: Birthrates for 15-17-year-olds were computed for all California zip codes, and the zip codes with birthrates in the 75th percentile were identified. Panels of local experts in adolescent pregnancy reviewed these "hot spots" for accuracy and grouped them into potential project areas, based on their demographics, geography and political infrastructure. RESULTS: In all, 415 zip codes exceeded the 75th-percentile cut-off point of 62.8 births per 1,000, and 210 of them differed significantly from the state average of 44.5 per 1,000 for 15-17-year-olds. While all had high adolescent birthrates, they varied greatly in racial and ethnic mix, poverty and educational attainment, and certain perinatal measures such as inadequate prenatal care and repeat pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The use of zip code-level data holds promise for more effective program planning and intervention.
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Keywords:
Adolescent Pregnancy; Adolescents; Age Factors; Americas; California; Correlation Studies; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Economic Factors; Fertility; Needs; North America; Northern America; Organization And Administration; Population; Population Characteristics; Population Dynamics; Program Design; Program Development; Programs; Reproductive Behavior; Research Methodology; Research Report; Statistical Studies; Studies; Target Population; United States; Youth
Authors: Lisa K Marriott; David A Nelson; Shauntice Allen; Karen Calhoun; Christina E Eldredge; Kim S Kimminau; Robert J Lucero; Fernando Pineda-Reyes; Bernice B Rumala; Arti P Varanasi; June S Wasser; Jackilen Shannon Journal: Sci Transl Med Date: 2012-02-01 Impact factor: 17.956
Authors: Andrew P South; David E Jones; Eric S Hall; Shuyon Huo; Jareen Meinzen-Derr; Lin Liu; James M Greenberg Journal: Matern Child Health J Date: 2012-02