Abstract Text: The ability to spatially analyze the relationship between teen sexual activity and other variables can be an important tool for community organization around reducing teen pregnancy. The Philadelphia Coalitions for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Project (PCAPPP) is a 5-year project funded by the CDC to reduce teen pregnancies through neighborhood coalitions who promote youth development activities. This presentation will demonstrate how geographic information systems (GIS) methods can be used to analyze the relationship between youth development activities and teen sexual behavior.
Data collected in 2000 from a community survey of 750 teens ages 15 to 19 living in areas with high teenage pregnancy rates are spatially analyzed. The relationships among youth development variables such as such as extra-curricular activities, school enrollment status and community participation are examined. The target and comparison areas are categorized and mapped as low, moderate and high youth activity density areas by zip codes. Next, the study areas are coded by sexual health and preventive behaviors: reported sexual behavior (ever), age at first sex, use of contraception at last sex, STD testing, and most recent sexual experience. It is hypothesized that in areas where there is high involvement in youth activities, there will be safer sex practices. Preliminary results show that there are significant gender differences in after school activities participation and significant behavioral and attitudinal differences surrounding condom use. Controlling for gender, age, and socioeconomic status, therefore, is critical to GIS analysis given the short-termed and diverse levels of school and community involvement among adolescents.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Adolescent Health, Geographic Information Systems
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.