The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

4157.0: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 1:15 PM

Abstract #50262

Abuelas y Jovenes project: Assessing the effectiveness of traditional case management vs. mentoring services on sexual behavior among parenting teens

Kristin Judy, MA, Research, Family Planning Council, 260 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19102-5076, 215-985-2622, kristin@familyplanning.org, Kay Armstrong, MS, Consultant, Drexel Hill, Philadelphia, PA 19102-5076, and Genevieve H. Sherrow, BS, Research Associate, Family Planning Council, 260 South Broad Street, Suite 1000, Philadelphia, PA 19102.

The Abuelas y Jovenes Project offers case management and mentoring services using case managers and paraprofessionals (Abuelas) to low-income adolescent mothers (Jovenes) in Philadelphia. The project includes 229 pregnant and parenting teens aged 18 or younger who are eligible for or recipients of TANF benefits. The racial/ethnic composition of the participant group is 46% African American, 38% Hispanic, 3% Caucasian, and 13% other. Case managers and abuelas addressed issues in the following content areas during client contacts: academic planning, health and life education, parenting services, and reproductive health education. A self-administered survey that inquires about birth control use, sexual activity, and school/work status is completed at baseline, and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after baseline. Comparisons were made between baseline and 12-month responses for 188 teens that completed a 12-month survey. Condom use (“every time” or “most of the time”) during the past six months increased 17 percentage points from baseline to 12 months for teens in the abuela group, compared to only 6 percentage points for teens in the case management group. Overall, condom use during last sexual encounter also increased from 40% at baseline to 49% at 12 months. In addition, 10% of these teens were working at baseline, compared to 22% at 12 months. Results of logistic regression analyses with 18 and 24-month data will be presented to determine if service dosage delivery and/or mode of delivery (abuela vs. case manager) have a significant effect on the outcomes associated with the project.

Learning Objectives:

  • Objective