Teenage pregnancy- A public health issue: Outcomes for teenage girls in an evidence-based Newark N J Best Friends Adolescent Family Life intervention to reduce risky behaviors, promote abstinence and good values

Background: Teenage birth rates are higher in the United States than England, Australia, Canada and Japan. High rates of risky behaviors exist among Newark teenagers including drug and alcohol use, smoking, STD's/HIV/AIDS, and teen pregnancy which affect health. This presentation: describes outcomes for girls in an evidenced-based intervention that promotes abstinence from drinking, drugs, and sex and promotes good values; and compares outcomes of intervention and comparison girls. Bandura's Social Learning and Piaget's theories guided the intervention focusing on discussions, mentoring, health/fitness classes, cultural events, community service, and recognition. Methods: Pretest post-test design. Four intervention schools (n=183 girls) and five comparison schools (n=123 girls) participated. Participants were 6th, 7th, 8th grade girls primarily of African American ethnicity. Intervention participants were randomly selected. Comparison participants were a convenience sample (no intervention). Comparison and intervention schools were matched on grade, ethnicity, socioeconomic status. Instruments: AFL Core Baseline/Follow-up and Demographic Questionnaires. Pearson Chi Square, Mann Whitney U statistical tests and .05 level of significance were used. Post-Test Results: Significantly more intervention than comparison girls reported: dating/party rules (p=.041); saying no to wrong activities (p=.026); importance of good education (p=.034); important for them (p<.001) and future spouse (p<.001) to remain abstinent; problem with sex before marriage even if no pregnancy results(p=.003); abstinence is the certain way to avoid pregnancy, STD's, health problems (p=.020). Significantly more comparison than intervention girls reported: questions about body/dating/alcohol/drugs (p=.012); friends who tried marijuana/drugs (p=.027); little life control (p=.008). Results higher at post test than pretest for intervention girls: rules about hanging out (p=.009)/where I am (p=.044); saying no to wrong activities (p=.019); staying away from trouble (p=.032); self-confidence (p<.001). Results higher at post test than pretest for comparison girls: OK for teens to date someone three or more years older or younger (p=.033); using marijuana/drugs (p=.045). Conclusions: Intervention girls have more significant outcomes related to values, abstinence behaviors and attitudes than comparison girls. Findings suggest the intervention promotes abstinence, reduces risky behaviors like using drugs. Findings have implications for development of intervention programs which aim to reduce risky behaviors, promote good values and abstinence attitudes and behaviors.