Other 'What Works' Topics
Adolescent Reproductive Health
By Jennifer Manlove, Ph.D., Elizabeth Terry-Humen, M.P.P., Angela Romano Papillo, M.A., Kerry Franzetta, Stephanie Williams, and Suzanne Ryan, Ph.D.
TABLE 1 TABLE 2 TABLE 3 TABLE 4 TABLE 5 TABLE 6 TABLE 7
INITIATION OF SEXUAL INTERCOURSE FREQUENCY OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY NUMBER OF SEXUAL PARTNERS USE OF CONDOMS FOR PROTECTION USE OF CONTRACEPTION PREGNANCIES AND BIRTHS CONTRACTING STDs
Adolescent Reproductive Health

  Experimental Research Studies Non-Experimental Research Studies
Use of Contraception
  

- Only 1 abstinence-only education program has been evaluated (Postponing Sexual Involvement/ ENABL) and showed no impact on contraceptive use. Few strong evaluations of abstinence-only programs have been conducted. Future evaluations will assess the effectiveness of these programs.

- 5 sexuality education programs measured contraceptive use as an outcome in experimental studies. Of these, 1 showed a positive impact (Safer Choices), 1 had positive impacts for boys only (Teen Talk), 1 had a positive impact for girls only (Postponing Sexual Involvement, Human Sexuality, and Health Screening), and 2 showed no impacts (McMaster Teen Program and Project SNAPP).

- Intensive long-term youth development programs that combine youth development and sexuality education (Children's Aid Society, for females but not males, and Washington State for 1 of 3 sites).

- 2 clinic-based programs aimed to improve contraceptive use. 1 program had a positive impact (Danielson et al. 1990 in Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA ), while the other had no impact (Hercog-Baron et al. 1986 in Philadelphia).

- Reduce other risky behaviors, such as substance abuse.

- Implement contraceptive education in schools.

- Promote participation in sports.

- Provide supports for maintaining intact families.

- Strengthen parent-child relationships.

- Promote high parent education levels.

- Encourage teens to date partners close to their own age.

- Reduce the occurrence of non-voluntary sexual experiences.

- Sexuality education and HIV education programs that include 10 components was associated with more positive outcomes (Kirby, 2001).

- Sexuality or HIV education programs that did not include the 10 components listed above, including programs that were primarily didactic and that did not include teen involvement, were not associated with a reduced frequency of sexual activity. Programs short in duration appear to have no association with outcomes.

- Attending schools with school-based or school-linked health clinics that provide contraceptives, focus intensely on contraception, and give a clear message about abstinence and oral contraceptives were associated with increased contraceptive use.

 

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