Short-Term Impact of a Teen Pregnancy-Prevention Intervention Implemented in Group Homes

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• 作者：Roy F. Oman ; Ph.D.^a ; ^{roman@unr.edu" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; Sara K. Vesely ; Ph.D.^b ; Jennifer Green ; M.P.H.^a ; Janene Fluhr ; M.S.^c ; Jean Williams ; M.P.H.^b
• 关键词：Teen pregnancy prevention ; Sex education ; Reproductive health ; Youth sexual risk behavior ; Youth in foster care ; Group homes ; Intervention ; Psychosocial change
• 刊名：Journal of Adolescent Health
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：November 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：59
• 期：5
• 页码：584-591
• 全文大小：530 K

文摘

Youth living in group home settings are at significantly greater risk for sexual risk behaviors; however, there are no sexual health programs designed specifically for these youth. The study's purpose was to assess the effectiveness of a teen pregnancy-prevention program for youth living in group home foster care settings and other out-of-home placements.

Methods

The study design was a cluster randomized controlled trial involving youth (N = 1,037) recruited from 44 residential group homes located in California, Maryland, and Oklahoma. Within each state, youth (mean age = 16.2 years; 82% male; 37% Hispanic, 20% African-American, 20% white, and 17% multiracial) in half the group homes were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 40 clusters) and the other half were randomly assigned to a control group that offered “usual care” (n = 40 clusters). The intervention (i.e., Power Through Choices [PTC]) was a 10-session, age-appropriate, and medically accurate sexual health education program.

Results

Compared to the control group, youth in the PTC intervention showed significantly greater improvements (p < .05) from preintervention to postintervention in all three knowledge areas, one of two attitude areas, all three self-efficacy areas, and two of three behavioral intention areas.

Conclusions

This is the first published randomized controlled trial of a teen pregnancy-prevention program designed for youth living in foster care settings and other out-of-home placements. The numerous significant improvements in short-term outcomes are encouraging and provide preliminary evidence that the PTC program is an effective pregnancy-prevention program.