Family Planning Education

Goals for this organization:

• Education about contraception and women’s health in a nonbiased manner
• Speakers from the community
• Learn about the unique problems here in Memphis in regards to contraception, low birth weight and infant mortality.
• Become involved with the community to further our own education and to help educate others in the community.

Why is this important as future physicians in Memphis?

• “While teen pregnancy dropped 6.4 percent in Shelby County in 2009 from the year before, there are still more than 2,000 babies born annually to moms ages 10-19.” - Commercial Appeal (January 22, 2011)
• In 2009, there were 14,409 live births in Shelby County.
• 2,181 of these babies were born to mothers aged 10 to 19.
• Over 80 percent were unintended pregnancies.
• Almost all were to unmarried mothers.
• Costs to deliver a child for a teenager = $4,688
• Investment for contraception = $267 per year

The Economic Impact of Teen Pregnancy in Memphis/Shelby County, TN
(The University of Memphis)

STDs in Memphis: Shelby County has one of the highest rates of syphilis nationally.

“Eighty percent of all P&S Syphilis cases are identified in males, and almost 90% of the total cases are among Non-Hispanic Black residents. When observing the distribution of P&S Syphilis cases among age groups, the largest percentage of cases are diagnosed among persons aged 25-34 years (37%), followed by young adults aged 20-24 years (25%).”

For more information or to get involved, email Jamison Norwood at jamison.norwood@gmail.com.