The Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program (APPP) is an abstinence based health promotion program for 7^th and 8^th grade students. The program was developed by the faculty of UMDNJ School of Nursing and is being implemented in schools in two large inner cities of New Jersey. The goal of the program is to increase teenagers’ awareness of the responsibility, time and commitment involved in caring for an infant, and the importance of delaying pregnancy.

The program consists of four modules: IA. Parenting Pros and Cons; IB. Baby Simulator Experience (Baby Think It Over); II Abstinence: It’s OK to Say No; III. Reducing Risky Behaviors; IV. Pregnancy Prevention Methods. Schools may select all or some of the modules for their students; the modules are taught during the school’s Health Education class periods. Students who elect the Baby Think It Over experience care for the baby for a period of 80 hours over a weekend. The Baby Think It Over simulator replicates the sleeping, waking and feeding patterns of a young infant. Each module has a pre/post test measuring knowledge and attitudes that is completed by each student in the class; Module IB has a post-experience interview. Long-term follow-up includes attitudes toward pregnancy and group pregnancy rate at 1 and 3 years.

Pre and Post-test scores and demographic data from students at six (6) large middle schools will be presented; content themes from the interviews (post baby simulator will be discussed).