The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50688

Darlene L. Shearer, DrPH¹, Lorraine V. Klerman, DrPH², and Susan Gyaben, MPH¹. (1) Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 Seventh Avenue South Suite 331, Birmingham, AL 35294, (205) 934-5461, dshearer@uab.edu, (2) Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Ryals Building 320, 1665 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022

This presentation will summarize thirteen communities’ experiences with selecting, implementing, and evaluating teen pregnancy prevention interventions within the Community Coalition Partnership Program for the Prevention of Teen Pregnancy, sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study was conducted by a study team at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, which has a grant to determine lessons learned from this initiative. The study focuses on specific processes and barriers encountered in five categories: (1) reproductive health services; (2) reproductive health education; (3) parent-child communication; (4) male involvement; and (5) programs for pregnant and parenting teens. The categories represent interventions often reported by teen pregnancy prevention programs. Study questions explored the factors that influenced decisions to develop or not to develop interventions within particular categories, including the relationship of such decisions to community needs and assets assessments and community action plans, and key entities in the selection process. Also addressed was the current status of the intervention and reasons why some interventions had been discontinued or dropped, sources of funding, plans for evaluation, and specific barriers encountered in the implementation and evaluation of each intervention. A total of 82 interventions were identified. Responses were analyzed in two ways: by the type of respondent (program director, evaluator, coalition chairperson); and by the intervention category. Lessons learned and implications for future teen pregnancy prevention efforts and program evaluation will be highlighted.

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