An ongoing cohort study of Shelby County mothers1 suggests that eight percent of pregnant mothers may regularly experience high levels of prenatal stress, placing their babies, and their early cognitive development at risk.
Be Proud, Be Responsible!
Be Proud, Be Responsible! is a new program in Shelby County that works with schools, churches and community centers to educate teen girls and boys on pregnancy prevention.
In Shelby County, 15% of all children are born to teenage mothers.1 These children face many obstacles in their early years in part because their mothers (and fathers) are not well prepared to be parents.
Teen pregnancy is of national concern because of the critical implications it has for a number of social and economic issues: poverty, education, infant mortality rates, early brain development and overall quality of life for both the mother and child.
Research that was presented at the 2009 Infectious Diseases Society of America meeting found that getting a flu vaccine during pregnancy greatly improves a child’s chances of having healthy birth outcomes.
Children whose parents have higher education are more likely to succeed, but attending college while also taking care of young children can be a daunting task.