Recent research has suggested the importance of understanding for whom programs are most effective (Supplee et al., 2013) and that multidimensional profiles of risk and protective factors may moderate the effectiveness of programs (Lanza & Rhoades, 2012). For school-based prevention programs, moderators of program effectiveness may occur at…

Beginning in 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sponsored numerous studies testing the effectiveness of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention programs on youths' risky sexual behaviors. This article presents results from a meta-analysis of such studies completed between 2015 and 2019 and provided to us by HHS. Studies were…

Substantial evidence supports comprehensive sex education programs as effective means of promoting adolescent sexual health, but evidence on the effect of state-level sex education policy is inconclusive. Multiple states in the U.S. afford local authority in school policy, and existing literature calls for investigation of the impact of local…

Background: Despite overall declines in risky teen sexual activity, racial and ethnic disparities persist. This study compared abstinence-only and comprehensive teen pregnancy prevention (TPP) programs to explore the effects of the programs on teen sexual activity-related outcomes that may differ by race/ethnicity. Methods: Program evaluation data…

Respecting the Circle of Life (RCL) is a teen pregnancy prevention program that was evaluated for effectiveness on sexual health risk behaviors through a two-arm randomized control trial (RCT) with American Indian (AI) youth ages 11-19. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of RCL compared to a control group on items of condom…

This study characterized the patterns and predictors of pre-post changes in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and intentions (KABBIs) among 641 youth who completed evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs. At follow-up, 64.0% of youth showed changes knowledge, communication, and attitudes; 22.5% showed changes in knowledge,…

In the past three decades, a variety of policies and programs have been created and implemented globally to promote Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR). However, millions of adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are unable to fully exercise their SRHR, becoming victim to early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and…

Background: Missouri Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) provides sexual health education programs to youth with goals of reducing unintended teen pregnancies. Theories of change provide that youth improve their sexual health knowledge, intentions, attitudes, and behaviors as a result of program implementation. Program evaluations are…

This paper explores the use of withdrawal as a harm reduction approach to adolescent pregnancy prevention and its association with condom use. Data come from a baseline survey of a randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of FLASH, a sexual health education curriculum. Study participants completed electronic self-report surveys in…

While the fertility effects of improving teenagers' access to contraception are theoretically ambiguous, most empirical work has shown that access decreases teen fertility. In this paper, we consider the fertility effects of access to condoms--a method of contraception not considered in prior work. We exploit variation across counties and across…

The proportion of teenagers engaging in sex has declined in recent decades, and rates of teen births in the United States have reached a historic low (Osterman et al., 2022). However, risky sexual activity, which can result in teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), remains a concern. To help reduce teen pregnancies and STIs…

Teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections are leading public health problems in the United States. While abstaining from sexual intercourse is the best way to avoid these conditions, abstinence only education (AOE) programs in schools have been shown ineffective in delaying sexual initiation or decreasing the teen pregnancy rate.…

Southern Africa remains the epicentre of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic with AIDS the leading cause of death amongst adolescents. Poor policy translation, inadequate programme implementation and fragmentation of services contribute to adolescents' poor access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services. This study…

Introduction: In Onondaga County, New York, around half of all births to Black and Hispanic teenage girls are unintended. The Layla's Got You campaign consists of a chatbot and social media campaign designed to increase contraception knowledge among 16- to 25-year-old Black and Hispanic women in Onondaga County. Methods: The campaign was…

Background: Teen pregnancy continues to burden families, communities, and society. Programs continue to educate and impower youth and young adults to make positive behavioral decisions. Methods: We evaluated a program aimed at high-risk youth in after-school programs. The goal of the program was to instill a sense of community and empathy, as well…