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U.S. teen pregnancy and birth rates remain among the highest in the western world. And although Latina teens were the only group to experience a decline in birth rate between 2006 and 2007, they continue to experience the highest rates in most states and across the nation. About half of all Latina teens experience pregnancy before they reach their 20th birthday, compared to slightly less than one-third (31 percent) of all U.S. teenage women.1 Latinos are also disproportionately affected by HIV and other STIs. In 2005, Latinos accounted for 17 percent of all new cases of HIV or AIDS diagnosed among U.S. teens; yet Latino teens account for less than 16 percent of all U.S. teens.2 In 2005, gonorrhea and chlamydia rates among Latina teens were 63 and 212 percent greater, respectively, than rates among their white female peers.3
Given the need to focus limited prevention resources on effective programs, Advocates for Youth undertook exhaustive reviews of existing research to compile a list of the programs that have been proven effective through rigorous evaluation at reducing adolescent sexual risk-taking. Advocates identified 26 programs that met its criteria for effectiveness. These programs and their evaluations are described in detail in Science and Success (2nd Edition).
To be included in Science and Success (2nd Edition) , programs had to meet the following evaluation criteria to be considered effective.
- Were published in peer-reviewed journals (a proxy for the quality of evaluation design and analysis);
- Used an experimental or quasi-experimental design, with treatment and control / comparison conditions;
- Included at least 100 young people in treatment and control / comparison groups combined; and
- Collected baseline and post-intervention data from both treatment and control / comparison groups.
Further, the evaluations either:
- Continued to collect data from both groups at three months or later after intervention;
And
- Demonstrated that the program led to at least two positive behavior changes among program youth, relative to controls:
- Postponement or delay of sexual initiation
- Reduction in the frequency of sexual intercourse
- Reduction in the number of sexual partners / increase in monogamy
- Increase in the use, or consistency of use, of effective methods of contraception and/or condoms
- Reduction in the incidence of unprotected sex
Or
- Showed program effectiveness in reducing rates of pregnancy, STIs, or HIV in intervention youth, relative to controls.
Of the 26 programs included in Science and Succes (2nd Edition), 15 showed evidence of effectiveness with Latino participants.
- Four were designed specifically for Latino youth (¡Cuídate!; HIV Risk Reduction for African American and Latina Adolescent Women; Poder Latino; and Safer Choices).
- Three programs, although not designed specifically for Latino youth, had evaluations where the majority of the participants were Latino (California’s Adolescent Sibling Pregnancy Prevention Project; Children’s Aid Society – Carrera Program; and Project SAFE).
- The remaining 8 programs included Latino youth in sufficient numbers to suggest that the programs may be effective with these young people.
Seven of the programs effective among Latino youth are school-based, five are community-based and three are clinic-based (noted below).
Section I. Programs Designed for Latino Youth
- ¡Cuídate! ( This program was designed for and effective with youth whose first language is Spanish.)(community-based)
- HIV Risk Reduction for African American & Latina Adolescent Women
- Poder Latino: A Community AIDS Prevention Program for Inner-City Latino Youth (clinic-based)
- Safer Choices (school-based)
Section II. Programs in which the Majority of the Evaluation Participants were Latino Youth
- California’s Adolescent Sibling Pregnancy Prevention Project (community-based)
- Children’s Aid Society – Carrera Program (community-based)
- Project SAFE: Sexual Awareness for Everyone (clinic-based)
Section III. Programs that included Latino Youth in Sufficient Numbers in the Evaluation
- Adolescents Living Safely: AIDS Awareness, Attitudes & Actions (community-based)
- AIDS Prevention for Adolescents in School (school-based)
- Get Real about AIDS (school-based)
- Postponing Sexual Involvement: Human Sexuality & Health Screening (school-based)
- Reach for Health Community Youth Service (school-based)
- Reducing the Risk (school-based)
- Teen Outreach Program (TOP) (school-based)
- TLC: Together Learning Choices (clinic-based)
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