The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #61284

Laura G. Farley, MA¹, Nancy Amodei, PhD², and Anthony Scott, PhD². (1) Department of Pediatrics/Division of Community Pediatrics-MSC 7818, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, (210) 567-7418, guerral@uthscsa.edu, (2) Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78384-7818

Community Pediatrics, under the auspices of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, worked collaboratively with four community agencies to implement a comprehensive preventive intervention designed to improve educational outcomes, enhance general well-being, and reduce substance use and repeat adolescent childbearing. The target population consisted of primarily Hispanic pregnant or parenting adolescents, ages 14 to 18, who were eligible for or receiving public assistance and who attended eight traditional high schools in Bexar County. Subjects were randomly assigned by school to receive either the current standard of care program (i.e., control group) offered by their school district or the comprehensive preventive intervention program (i.e., intervention group). The intervention condition received: 1) A comprehensive life skills curriculum targeting parenting skills, vocational education, violence and substance abuse prevention and family planning; and/or 2) Intensive case management with individualized service plans, monthly meetings at school, and five home visits per year. The intervention involves extensive community linkages so that the full array of services needed by parenting adolescents could be provided. Outcome measures were collected at baseline and at 6-month intervals for 24 months. This presentation will focus on the project’s study design, goals and objectives, and the results of the 24 month follow up. At the conclusion of the session, individuals will be able to: 1) Identify the goals and objectives of this collaborative project, 2) appreciate how the present multi-component intervention yields promise as an effective long term preventive intervention for minority pregnant or parenting adolescents, and 3) apply the knowledge gained as a result of PS LONG towards the further development of interventions addressing secondary pregnancies, substance abuse, and other high risk behaviors in minority teen mothers.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, individuals will be able to:
• Identify the goals and objectives of this collaborative project,
• appreciate how the present multi-component intervention yields promise as an effective long term preventive intervention for minority pregnant or parenting adolescents, and
• apply the knowledge gained as a result of PS LONG towards the further development of interventions addressing secondary pregnancies, substance abuse and other high risk behaviors in minority teen mothers.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.