Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Julie C. Garza, MPH, Susan Tortolero, PhD, Christine Markham, PhD, and Robert Addy, MA. Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, 7000 Fannin, 26th floor, Houston, TX 77030, 713-500-9983, Julie.C.Garza@uth.tmc.edu

Although the rate of teen pregnancy continues to decrease in the US, girls attending alternative schools continue to become pregnant at greater rates than girls attending mainstream schools. The purpose of this study is to assess associations between psychosocial variables and risk-taking behaviors with teen pregnancy among girls attending alternative schools. The cross-sectional study consisted of 565 girls enrolled in an STI and HIV prevention intervention. Subjects were recruited from alternative high schools in a large, urban county in Southeast Texas. Univariate and adjusted odds ratios were calculated for each psychosocial and behavioral variable with teen pregnancy. Twenty-one percent of the girls reported a history of pregnancy. After controlling for age and ethnicity, girls with a history of pregnancy were more likely to report higher self-efficacy to use a condom and more negative normative beliefs about intercourse and condom use than those who had never been pregnant. Furthermore, girls with a history of pregnancy were more likely to have used marijuana and cocaine in their lifetime, report a higher number of sex partners within the previous three months, and have a younger age of sexual onset. These findings indicate that girls from alternative schools may have unique needs than mainstream populations. Thus, it is necessary to understand these needs and to develop prevention programs specifically designed for this high risk population. Furthermore, pregnancy prevention programs aimed exclusively for teens who have been pregnant are essential. More studies are needed to identify causal relationships between the variables and pregnancy.

Learning Objectives:

• • Identify psychosocial and behavioral differences between girls in alternative schools who have a history of pregnancy and those who do not.
• • Describe risk behaviors in alternative school students.
• • Discuss the need for prevention programs among high risk girls who have a history of pregnancy.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Teen Pregnancy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered