ADOLESCENT
SEXUAL HEALTH IN POLK COUNTY
WHAT WE KNOW
Sexuality is a natural, human trait.
In adolescence, we experience significant physical, psychological, and social changes related to our sexuality. We also explore behaviors, values, and feelings which in turn shape our identities.
Sexual health isn’t simply avoiding negative outcomes.
Sexual health at any age is “a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well–being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction, or infirmity.”
Sexual health is determined by life choices, social and structural factors, and access to education and services.
Healthy sexual development is impacted by an adolescent’s level of access to quality sex education, safe and affordable healthcare, and family support. Outcomes are also influenced by poverty and discrimination, gender inequities and gender role expectations, and the assumption that everyone is or should be heterosexual.
THE FACTS: In Polk County, the number of teen births has decreased 24% since 2016.
| POLK County | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of teen births (mothers 15 – 19) | 320 | 309 | 281 | 231 | 243 |
| Population of 15 – 19 year old females | 14824 | 14900 | 15125 | 15425 | 15553 |
| Percent of births to teen mothers | 5% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
| Teen birth rate (per 1,000 females, 15 – 19 years) | 22 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 16 |
| Rank among peers** (Counties of <10K pop.) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Overall rank** among Iowa’s 99 counties | 29 | 33 | 31 | 45 | 39 |
*Counts of 5 or less but greater than 0 are suppressed to protect confidentiality.
**Rank of 1 = highest birth rate, rank of 6 or 99, respectively = lowest birth rate
Statewide, between 2016 and 2020 teens 15 – 19 years accounted for 25% of chlamydia cases, 14% of gonorrhea cases, and 4% of syphilis cases.
| POLK County | 2015 - 2016 | 2017 - 2018 | 2019 - 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlamydia | 1063 | 1333 | 1652 |
| Gonorrhea | 156 | 268 | 445 |