2023 Minnesota Adolescent Sexual Health Report

Abstract

This report details the sexual health of Minnesota’s youth. The teen birth rate declined by 3.3% from 2020 to 2021, while the teen pregnancy rate increased by nearly 26%. These are the first data representing experiences of pregnancy and birth during the COVID-19 pandemic, which undoubtedly affected the sexual health of Minnesota’s young people. Even with this one-year increase, the teen pregnancy rate among 15–19-year-olds has declined by 71.2% since 1990. The teen birth rate decreased by nearly 76% in that same period. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to decline from their peaks before the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected STI testing and treatment. The percentage of sexually active youth continues to decline and more youth are talking with partners about STIs and pregnancy, but condom use among young people is also down. In response to the data outlined in this report, the following are recommendations from the University of Minnesota Healthy Youth Development – Prevention Research Center (PRC).