Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110196

Jacqueline Matuza, MPH, None, 36 Bellwood Avenue, S. Setauket, NY 11720, 215-762-3939, jm376@drexel.edu and Nathalie A. Bartle, EdD, School of Public Health, Drexel University, Mail Stop 660, 245 North 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102-1192.

Sexually transmitted infection rates as well as teen pregnancy rates for Philadelphia are higher than national averages. In 2002, the national rates were 257.5 per 100,000 for Chlamydia, 132 cases per 100,000 for Gonorrhea, and 84 pregnancies per 1000 females aged 15-19. Philadelphia rates were 952.7, 461.7, and 109.2 according to the CDC, Pennsylvania Health Department and National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Many programs are currently used in the U.S. to address these issues; very few are evaluated for their effectiveness. The purpose of this project is to determine if a sexuality education program, that has been implemented by a community based organization (CBO) for the past several years, is changing the self-reported behaviors, beliefs, and skill levels of adolescents receiving the program. A comparison evaluation involving 150 ninth grade students will be conducted. Half of the students involved are scheduled to receive the program. Half will be receiving only a resource guide. Pre/post surveys consisting of 4 sections: demographics, sexual behavior, protection/contraception use, and communication skills will be administered to both groups. Statistical analysis of the data will be performed using SPSS 11.0.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze differences between the two groups.
• From results, make recommendations to the CBO on how to incorporate these findings into their curriculum development with the goal of enhancing effectiveness of the sexuality education program.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Sexuality

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.