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

Abstract #69630

Helen Cagampang, PhD¹, Nancy Berglas, MS¹, Anne K. Driscoll, DrPH², Virginia McCarter, PhD², Norma Munroe, MS³, and Claire Brindis, DrPH¹. (1) Center for Reproductive Health Research and Policy, University of California at San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 265, San Francisco, CA 94143-0936, 415-476-5146, hcagam@itsa.ucsf.edu, (2) Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California St., Suite 265, San Francisco, CA 94118, (3) School Health Connections, California Department of Education, 1430 N Street, #6408, Sacramento, CA 95814

In 1995, California’s Department of Education (CDE) funded the Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Grant Program (TPPGP), a $50 million, five-year competitive grant program. Thirty-seven local education agencies and their community partners in 25 counties with above average teen birth rates implemented comprehensive teen pregnancy prevention programs for students in elementary and secondary schools. The evaluators used changes in zip code level birth rates to identify outcomes and approaches that contributed to program success. Between 1995 and 2000, California’s teen birth rate (ages 12 - 17) declined by 34%. Rates declined in 34 of 37 TPPGP service areas (92%), and more than average in 43% (n=16). Birth rates declined more rapidly in TPPGP zip codes with significantly higher birth rates than in a sample of comparable zip codes for three age groups. Programs with above average declines implemented targeted (rather than schoolwide) programs (p<.05); served smaller (rather than larger) proportions of students (p<.001); included comprehensive family life education strategies (p<.05); implemented primary strategies with greater fidelity to the published curriculum (r=.30, p<.05); and used curricula with stronger published evaluations (p<.05). Effective programs were equally effective with youth from all ethnic groups. Approaches that did not contribute to reductions in birth rates were identified. Although the use of zip code level birth rates has limitations for program evaluation, the results reported in this paper suggest that school-based prevention programs that include the aforementioned characteristics are likely to be more effective in delaying sexual activity and reducing teen pregnancies.

Learning Objectives:

After presentation of the paper, attendees will be able to:
• Describe how this progam evaluation incorporated teen birth rates as an evaluation outcome measure
• List five program characteristics that were related to changes in teen birth rates
• List three limitations for teen birth rates as a measure of teen pregnancy preveniton program effectiveness

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: California Department of Education Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Program
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.