Online Program

336265
Evaluation of a sexual risk avoidance education program on teen pregnancy prevention in low-income, minority populations in New York


Wednesday, November 4, 2015 : 9:10 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Chia-Ching Chen, EdD, MA, MS, CHES, SRAS, Department of Epidemiology & Community Health, New York Medical College School of Health Sciences & Practice, Valhalla, NY
Qiuhu Shi, PhD, Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Health Science and Practice, Valhalla, NY
Nanci Coppola, DPM, MS, SRAS, Program Reach, Inc., Bronx, NY
Background: Teen pregnancy prevention is a priority public health issue because of the economic and social costs to teens, their families, and society as a whole.

Objectives: To examine a school-based health program aimed at reducing teen pregnancy, STDs, and increasing skills to negotiate risk avoidance and resist pressure to engage in sex among mid/high school adolescents in low-income, minority populations.

Methods: The intervention was based on five cycles of the Healthy Respect Youth Development Program- delivered in five urban area high schools and seven middle schools over the course of 5 semesters between 2006 and 2008 in NY. Twenty lessons were structured at each grade level; instructors implemented them following pre-approved lesson plans. 1,158 students were surveyed at pretest (intervention group= 852; comparison group= 306). This analysis is based on 564 matched records for the intervention group and 176 for the comparison group.

Results: There was an increase in intervention students correctly answering questions related to preventing HIV, STDs or pregnancy and who are aware that abstinence is the only certain way to prevent pregnancy and STDs (p<0.0001). Intervention group students became more positive in their attitudes toward the concept that teen sex may lead to negative outcomes such as psychological or physical effects. Also, there was a significant increase in intervention students reporting that their friends confirm the norms that sexual intercourse should wait until they are in a mutually exclusive relationship.

Conclusions: The school-based health educational program increases knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs toward risk avoidance and promotes pregnancy avoidance behaviors among adolescents.

Learning Areas:

Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Assess school-based sexual risk avoidance education program. Identify communication strategies for promoting school-based teen pregnancy prevention.

Keyword(s): Adolescents, Sexual Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract author on the content because I am involved in the study. My area of research has been focused on promoting health and preventing disease among adolescent at school-based setting.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.