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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Tania B. Basta, MPH¹, Shannon Knoedler, MSW², and Karen Sherman, MA². (1) Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia, 300 River Road, Athens, GA 30602, 706-583-0692, tbasta@uga.edu, (2) Health Care Education & Training, Inc., 9640 N. Augusta Drive Suite 421, Carmel, IN 46032

Background: Research suggests that science-based adolescent reproductive health approaches, including the use of behavioral theory for intervention development and rigorous evaluation, have been successful in preventing teen pregnancy. In 2000, the teen pregnancy rate in Wisconsin was 55 per 1,000 compared to 84 nationwide. Purpose: To identify the extent to which science-based approaches to adolescent reproductive health programs were used by organizations in Wisconsin and to assess the factors influencing the adoption and implementation of science-based practices. Methods: Health Care Education and Training, Inc. and the State of Wisconsin-Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Family Services, the Department of Public Instruction, the Department Workforce Development and the Wisconsin Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Committee worked collaboratively to develop the Wisconsin Adolescent Reproductive Health Needs Assessment. Organizations in 60 of the 72 counties in Wisconsin were invited to complete the assessment by mail or online. Results: 124 organizations responded; 31.5% identified as health departments, 15.3% as community-based organizations, and 21% as family planning clinics. The majority served at-risk and low-income youth in urban, rural, and suburban settings. Over 40% considered their programs to be science-based, 20% did not consider their program to be science-based, and the rest were not sure. Twenty-seven percent reported evaluating their programs annually and 32.9% had used a logic model for evaluation. Twenty-one percent of the organizations were not familiar with science-based programs. However, 77% percent of the organizations reported they would like information on programs that have been effective in preventing HIV, STIs, and adolescent pregnancy.

Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to

• Identify characteristics of effective science-based programs that prevent teen pregnancy, STIs and HIV as defined by CDC,
• Identify adolescent reproductive health curricula that have been identified as science-based, and
• Describe the needs and challenges to adopting or implementing science-based approaches to adolescent reproductive health programs in the state of Wisconsin.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation