| Science-Based Approaches in Teen Pregnancy and HIV/STI Prevention: Selected Annotated Bibliography |
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This bibliography provides a selected list of publications and other resources around science-based approaches in preventing teen pregnancy, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). All selected publications and resources are available free on the World Wide Web. Resources are arranged under four headings—1) research summaries related to effective programs, 2) resources on program planning, implementation, and evaluation, 3) Web sites offering resources related to science-based practices, and 4) Listservs announcing new (free) publications. Within these categories, publications and resources are listed in alphabetical order, by publisher or sponsor.* I. Research Summaries Related to Effective Programs
An exhaustive literature review identified over 160 evaluations of programs. Nineteen were selected for inclusion in this document. None of the effective programs was abstinence-only. Each of the 19 effective programs reduced the incidence of pregnancy or STIs and/or affected two or more of the following behaviors: 1) delaying the initiation of sex; 2) reducing the frequency of sexual intercourse; 3) reducing the number of sexual partners or increasing monogamy; 4) increasing the use, or consistency of use, of effective methods of contraception and/or condoms; and/or 5) reducing the incidence of unprotected sex. Science and Success includes charts indicating whether the program is school- or community-based, the age and race/ethnicity of youth with whom the program was evaluated, the program’s important components, evaluation findings, replication findings, and contact information on where to obtain the program and training to implement it. Supplement I:
This paper reviews more than 150 research studies on sexuality and HIV prevention education. It summarizes the effects of 16 evaluated programs—eight sex education, one abstinence-only-until-marriage, and seven HIV prevention programs. Programs that work to improve adolescent sexual health and behaviors are those that reduce rates of unintended pregnancy and incidence of STIs among teens or that show at least one of the following behavior changes: delaying sexual initiation; reducing the frequency of sexual activity; reducing the number of sexual partners; or increasing the use of condoms and other contraceptives. The paper also includes information on programs that do not work, as well as information on some that have not yet been rigorously evaluated but that show promise.
ReCAPP aims to build the capacity of schools, state and local health departments, and youth serving organizations and institutions nationwide to implement science-based, proven approaches to reducing adolescents’ risk for pregnancy. ETR offers publications, hosts projects on preventing unintended pregnancy, and provides Web-based consultation, training, research syntheses, materials, and program development. The ReCAPP Web site provides information for health educators and program planners on programs to prevent teen pregnancy. In regard to each highlighted program, the site provides an overview and discussion of the program’s features, a description of its theoretical framework, costs, training information, and a summary of evaluation findings. Each program has been evaluated and shown to reduce one or more sexual risk behaviors in at least some groups of youth.
Emerging Answers focuses on excellence in evaluation and also identifies characteristics of successful programs to prevent teen pregnancy and HIV/STIs. It highlights components of programs that are effective in encouraging teens to remain abstinent or to use condoms and contraception when they do have sex. None of programs identified as successful is an abstinence-only-until-marriage program. The study highlights eight programs that have strong evidence of effectiveness—five comprehensive sex education or HIV prevention education programs, two service learning programs, and one intensive, combined sexuality and youth development program. Significantly, the study shows that evaluations consistently disprove claims that providing teens with information about abstinence and contraception sends a ‘mixed message.’
PASHA assembles programs to address prevention in three key, public health issues: teen pregnancy, HIV, and substance abuse. Specifically, PASHA is a collection of promising teen pregnancy and HIV/STI prevention programs that have demonstrated at least some effectiveness in reducing sexual risk behaviors among teens. PASHA staff has developed packages for each program. Each package includes a complete set of program materials: training manual, curriculum, guidebook, workbooks, video(s), and user's guide to implementation.
This publication identifies 24 promising pregnancy prevention programs for young men and provides insights on designing programs to attract and retain young men. All featured programs focus on males’ sexuality, contraceptive use, reproduction, and parenting. For each program, the book discusses: 1) barriers to recruiting and serving young men; 2) lessons learned in the course of two or more years of the program’s operation; and 3) activities, staffing needs, and target population. II. Program Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation Resources
The series includes: 1) Mobilizing for Action; 2) Building Strong Foundations and Ensuring the Future; 3) Designing Effective Family Life Education Programs; 4) Improving Contraceptive Access for Teens; and 5) Linking Pregnancy Prevention to Youth Development. The series offers research and guidance on adolescent sex education and pregnancy prevention programs. Volumes explore: 1) building a coordinated effort to prevent teen pregnancy; 2) conducting pregnancy prevention campaigns; 3) creating, replicating, and/or adapting an effective sex education program; 4) identifying and addressing barriers to young people's access to contraception; 5) the benefits of linking youth development and sex education and contraceptive access programs; 6) assessing the needs and assets of the community’s youth; 7) developing a strong funding base for programs; and 8) planning for evaluation.
This three-volume publication is a practical tool kit for taking community-wide action to prevent teen pregnancy. The series covers a lot of ground—from strategies for collecting basic data and reaching out to religious leaders to practical advice about how to raise money and conduct evaluation. The series offers easy-to-read boxes, helpful checklists, and references and resources.
This comprehensive, easy-to-use guide assists program planners to determine if an intervention is ready for evaluation. The guide also provides step-by-step information on how to collect valuable information related to the strength of the program model, staff resources, program philosophy, and implementation of program components. The guide offers a detailed outline for operational planning, using the data to identify program areas that need to be strengthened.
This publication provides a core, primary questionnaire (with optional supplementary modules) that will be useful for evaluating any teen pregnancy or HIV/STI prevention program. The items are also available on PC diskette so that program planners can develop their own questionnaires. A second, abridged publication—PMEDS JR, focusing on programs that emphasize abstinence—may be suitable for evaluating programs for pre-teens and very young teens. III. Online Resources Related to Science Based Practices
Advocates for Youth’s Web site offers hundreds of full-text publications on subjects including but not limited to: 1) adolescent sexual behavior, sexual health, and contraceptive use; 2) cultural competency, including youth-friendly services; 3) emergency contraception; 4) European approaches; 5) gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) youth; 6) parent-child communication; 7) preventing teen pregnancy and HIV/STIs; 8) sex education; 9) youth empowerment, peer education, and youth-adult partnerships in programs’ design and operation; 10) youth in developing nations; and 11) youth of color. Advocates for Youth—
ASHA—ASHA leads the National STD Action Plan, a collaboration among private, public, and nonprofit sectors, to provide strategic leadership in the fight against STIs by breaking society’s silence regarding STIs. The Plan aims to educate: 1) the general public, which understands little about STIs and harbors many myths and misconceptions about STIs; 2) patients, who may feel fear, shame, or stigma related to STIs; 3) health care providers, who may feel inadequately prepared or uncomfortable discussing STIs with patients; and 4) policy makers, who are charged with making decisions about funding and service delivery, yet often are reluctant to address this controversial issue
This Web page, from the Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases at the CDC, provides information on sexually transmitted infections, including bacterial vaginosis, chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts (human papillomavirus or HPV), gonorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), syphilis, and trichomoniasis. Each STI’s fact sheet discusses how the disease is transmitted, treated, and prevented as well as how prevalent it is in the United States. The Web page also gives access to a fact sheet on male latex condoms’ effectiveness in preventing STIs, including HIV.
Girls Incorporated develops research-based, informal, education programs that encourage girls to take positive, healthy risks and to master physical, intellectual, and emotional challenges. Major programs address education, pregnancy, and HIV prevention as well as general adolescent health and violence prevention. A special online resource library is available with facts and tip sheets as well as links to related organizations.
The daily reports provide summaries and links to news in the fields of HIV and AIDS, reproductive health, and health policy. Published Monday through Friday (except holidays), the reports keep readers abreast of news, editorials, some newly published scientific studies, and important actions in Congress and state legislatures.
The MCH Library collects materials on the history of maternal and child health in the United States, policy papers, reports, conference proceedings, manuals, survey instruments, guidelines, and curricula. Publications come from federal and state agencies, grantees of federal and state agencies, and professional and volunteer organizations. The library also offers bibliographies, including one on adolescent pregnancy prevention.
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy offers a Web site that provides access to research and information on teen pregnancy and teen births. Its “Across America” section presents state-by-state statistics on demographics, teen pregnancy, and risk behaviors as well as trend data and summaries of teen pregnancy prevention programs. The Web site provides research and polling data, resources, special sections and links for teens, and other publications, including video and audio collections and materials in Spanish.
SIECUS is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting sexual health for people of all ages. Its Web site provides information on state and local policies, sex education programs, effective curricula for teen pregnancy and HIV/STI prevention, and guidelines for effective sex education. SIECUS offers SHOP Talk, a free biweekly electronic newsletter for sex educators and health workers and the “Librarian's Information Network on Sexuality,” an electronic discussion group for librarians.
AHTP is an interdisciplinary program dedicated to preparing health professionals for leadership roles in adolescent health care. AHTP is grounded in the concept of resiliency and aims to identify and enhance the competency of young people. Training focuses on interdisciplinary collaboration, multiculturalism, and the health of populations as well as of individuals. Health professionals can develop in-depth expertise in: 1) risk and protective factors in adolescence; 2) adolescent sexuality, sexual behavior, and sexual health outcomes; 3) interventions to delay or avert teen pregnancy; 4) preventing obesity and eating disorders among adolescents; 5) cross-cultural and multicultural research in adolescent health; 6) the health needs of gay youth; 7) chronic illness or disability and its effect on an adolescent’s transition to adulthood; and 8) adolescent health worldwide. IV. Listservs that Announce New (Free) Publications
* To recommend additional resources for later editions of this document, please contact Advocates for Youth. Huberman, B., Advocates for Youth, 2009. |