Teen pregnancy is a national concern affecting maternal, child and adolescent health care. Approximately 19 million teen pregnancies occur each year in the United States. Teens engaging in sexual activity, whether or not it results in pregnancy, are putting themselves at risk for a host of other complications, including contracting sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and Hepatitis C. This paper will present the 12-month results of a randomized controlled study of a mentoring program designed to reduce repeat pregnancy among a sample of parenting adolescents in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The majority of the participants in the sample are Hispanic (47%). The results will compare baseline to 12-month data for parenting adolescents in both the mentor program (treatment condition) and the traditional school based parenting program (control condition). The mentor program participants differ from the control group on several outcome factors that include but are not limited to: ATOD risks, attitudes, and use; possibility of repeat pregnancy; school improvement or completion; and safe sex practices among parenting adolescents in the study. Comparisons will be made across age, ethnicity, and urban vs. rural adolescents to examine whether certain demographic characteristics represent either risk or protective factors. The findings show a positive correlation between mentoring and reduction in repeat pregnancy among parenting adolescents. Implications of these findings for interventions will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: 1. understand the role of mentoring in reducing repeat pregnancy and other high-risk behavior among parenting adolescents; 2. describe repeat pregnancy related risk and protective factors; 3. discuss how these data can inform public policy
Keywords: Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Community Programs
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Community Prevention Partnership of Berks County, Reading, PA
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.