Adolescent mothers have unique health needs compared to older mothers and other adolescents (Aujoulat et al, 2010; Chablani & Spinney, 2011; Crittenden et al.2009,). It is therefore important that community development nurses take their specific needs into account when designing programs. This article will identify the prevalence of teenage motherhood in Saint John, New Brunswick and Canada. The challenges and issues faced by adolescent mothers, as well as relevant health determinants, will be examined. Finally, local interventions and strategies identified by the literature as effective in improving the health status of adolescent mothers will be examined and critiqued. Target population and epidemiology The target population for this evaluation consists of adolescent mothers aged 15 to 19 years. For this trial, teenage mothers are considered to be between the ages of 15 and 19 unless otherwise noted. In 2008, there were 15,570 live births to teenage mothers in Canada. In New Brunswick, there were 488 live births in 2008 (Statistics Canada, 2008). Less than 5% of pregnant teenagers opt for adoption in New Brunswick (L. Smith, personal communication, September 21, 2011). The Health Indicators Report showed that 28% of New Brunswick teen pregnancies occurred in the Saint John region in 2009 (Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health {OCMOH}, 2011). The report also identifies the adolescent fertility rate in New Brunswick. This rate refers to the number of live births to women aged 15 to 19 per 1,000. In Saint John, the adolescent fertility rate is 43.7. This number is significantly higher than the national adolescent fertility rate of 14 and the provincial fertility rate of 20 (OCMOH). Although Canada's national fertility rate is less than half the United States of America's rate of 41, it is still higher than that of most European countries, including France, which has a rate of eight, and the rate of four in the Netherlands (OCMOH). These statistics show a significant number of teenage mothers in Saint John, New Brunswick and Canada, demonstrating the need for health care interventions for this target population. Determinants of healthTo make a comprehensive assessment of the needs of adolescent mothers, it is essential to consider the determinants of health. Common problems faced by this population include high dropout rates, depression, social isolation, repeat pregnancies, and less effective parenting skills (source). The health determinants most likely to impact adolescent mothers include income and education, social support, personal health practices, healthy childhood development, and gender. Unfortunately, the literature focuses primarily on the negative determinants of health in this group and neglects to focus on positive health. determinants or active.