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

Abstract #65031

Kelly Cleland, MPA, MPH¹, Helen Cagampang, PhD¹, and Anna Ramirez, MPH². (1) Center for Reproductive Health Research and Policy, University of California at San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 265, San Francisco, CA 94143-0936, 415-502-1176, cleland@itsa.ucsf.edu, (2) Office of Family Planning, State of California Department of Health Services, 714 P Street #440, Sacramento, CA 95814

Introduction: Since 1999, the University of California San Francisco has conducted an outcome evaluation of the California Department of Health Services’ Community Challenge Grant (CCG) Program. CCG funded 134 lead agencies to reduce the number of adolescent pregnancies in counties in California where births to teens exceeded the statewide average.

Objective: This study investigates the relationships between perceived risk and protective factors and sexual activity, stratified by age, among adolescents participating in CCG interventions.

Methodology: 35,635 adolescents completed baseline surveys before participating in CCG programs. Odds ratios were used to assess age-specific relationships between sexual activity and two mediating variables: number of risk factors (using a 7-point scale) and number of reasons to wait to have sex (using an 11-point scale).

Results: Initial analyses showed strong age effects. As youth grew older, the relationship between the number of risk factors that youth identified in their lives and sexual activity weakened (OR for age 14 = 1.65; age 16 = 1.48; age 19 = 1.31). Likewise, the relationship between the number of reasons to wait to become sexually active and whether youth reported having had sex was strongest for younger adolescents (OR for age 14 = .68; age 16 = .72; age 19 = .78).

Conclusions: These results indicate that external risk factors and protective attitudes (in the form of reasons to wait to have sex) are most important for younger adolescents. Therefore, programs working to reduce pregnancy and high-risk sexual behavior among teens should identify and address the age-specific factors that influence the transition to sexual activity.

Learning Objectives:

(
• Identify relationships between sexual behavior and risk and protective factors among teens at different ages. (
• Articulate the importance of identifying and addressing age-specific influences on sexual activity for teens.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: UCSF is my employer.