ReCAPP is pleased to present:

by Barbara Sugland, MPH, ScD

This presentation consisting of 40 slides was one of three major presentations delivered to reproductive health professionals at the "Bridging Science and Practice Institute" in Charleston, South Carolina in June, 2003. The Institute was developed and coordinated by ETR Associates and the National Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting & Prevention (NOAPPP) with financial support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Reproductive Health.

The presentation provides a wealth of adolescent reproductive data as well as a break down of these data by race and ethnicity. Dr. Sugland's analysis of these data gives us reason to pause and ask why such disparities continue to exist among different racial and ethnic groups in the United States as well as think critically about the most effective ways to reach different groups of adolescents with prevention messages.

For example, in Slide #16 we see that African-American females (ages 15-19) are dramatically more likely to have chlamydia than any other racial/ethnic group. In Slide # 6 we see that Hispanic adolescents have the highest birthrates. In Slide #13, we see that American Indian teens are the least likely to have used a condom at last intercourse.

What can parents, practitioners, policy makers and researchers do to better understand why these disparities exist and better address these disparities? This question is addressed toward the end of the slide presentation. However, ReCAPP challenges you to think critically about these data and how to best address them in your community. We encourage you to share your ideas with ReCAPP's Project Team at recappfeedback@etr.org