A peer education approach to preventing adolescent pregnancy and promoting sexual health

A significant number of adolescents are engaging in sexual intercourse at earlier stages in their lives, and many are participating in high-risk sexual behavior that increases their vulnerability to HIV, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unintended pregnancy. Inadequate sexual health education is one explanation for why students are engaging in risky behaviors. Students consistently report that they do not receive enough information about sexual health in time for it to influence the decisions they make. However, students in schools have an important role to play in their own sexual health education.

Students are often underutilized resources, capable of delivering prevention education programs in a way that impacts significantly their own lives, the lives of their peers, and the overall quality of their schools. At the same time, effective peer education models require careful planning, coordination, and resources. In this session, participants will examine strategies and lessons learned from an evidence-based, high school peer education program, known as the Teen Prevention Education Program (Teen PEP). Teen PEP is a school-based intervention that trains peer educators in grades 11 and 12 to deliver interactive workshops to 9th graders and to conduct a Family Night event. The intervention addresses postponing sexual involvement, preventing unintended pregnancy, preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, avoiding sexual decision-making while under the influence of alcohol and other drugs, and improving parent-teen communication. Peer educators also develop a school-wide campaign to reinforce workshop messages.