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

Abstract #72019

Joe Funk, BS¹, Nancy Berglas, MS¹, Helen Cagampang, PhD¹, and Elena R. Berliner, MPH, MSW². (1) Center for Reproductive Health Research and Policy, University of California at San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 265, San Francisco, CA 94143-0936, 415-514-2314, funk@itsa.ucsf.edu, (2) Office of Family Planning, California Department of Health Services, 714 P Street, Room 550, Sacramento, CA 95814

In 1999, the California Department of Health Services funded 134 Community Challenge Grant (CCG) agencies to reduce the number of adolescent pregnancies in California where the births to teens aged 15-19 years exceeded the statewide rate. This study explores baseline differences in risk and sexual behaviors among CCG participants by their attitude towards sports (important vs. not important). A sample of 38,847 adolescents (ages 14-19) completed a survey measuring attitudes and behaviors about sex, along with personal strengths and intentions for the future. At baseline, survey results showed 48% (n=16523) of youth reporting that they felt sports were important to them. These youth were more likely than youth who did not report that sports were important to them to report that they had an adult in their lives that they could trust (80% vs. 76%) and that they planned to finish high school (66% vs. 57%) or go to college (62% vs. 48%). They also reported fewer risk behaviors, such as skipping school (19% vs. 21%), using drugs (16% vs. 19%), or smoking cigarettes (14% vs. 17%). They were less likely to be sexually active (34% vs. 43%) – true for both males and females – and more likely to have used contraception the first time they had sex (72% vs. 69%). These preliminary results suggest that interest in and attitudes toward sports may contribute to lower teen birth rates. Findings from this study suggest that a better understanding of the role of sports and its contexts could assist health providers to target pregnancy prevention interventions more effectively.

Learning Objectives:

(
• Identify the baseline differences in risk and protective factors and sexual behaviors between youth reporting that sports were important or not important to them (
• Discuss the implications of involvement in sports as it relates to adolescent health and adolescent sexual behavior

Keywords: Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Adolescent Health

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.