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Beletshachew Tefferi, MPH, Irshad Ali Shaikh, MD MPH PhD, and Masood Ali Shaikh, MD MPH. SAbER Project, Chester Health Department, Chester City Hall, One 4th Street, Chester, PA 19013, (610)447-7777, munatefferi1@yahoo.com
Chester City, a city in Southeastern PA with a population of <40,000, over 75% African-Americans, has had one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in PA since mid 90s. The health department has been running a sexual abstinence education program for adolescents aged 9-14 years since 1998-99. Where as total abstinence per se may not be a very successful intervention/message, nonetheless social development and self-respect based messages have helped the cohorts of 9-14 year olds to attain positive externalities such as a raised awareness of healthy life style, socio-economic development opportunities; teenage pregnancy rates have also remained more or less constant.
The presentation, using evaluative criteria, will demonstrate significant changes in knowledge, intentions, and practices of the cohorts of 9-14 year olds that have continued to participate in abstinence program, and the program attributes that sustained their interest.
The presentation will also demonstrate how in marginalized communities that lack recreational and developmental programs, even a single, vertical health and social development intervention, can harness parental involvement, And support overall development of adolescents.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Adolescents, Community Education
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Chester Health Department, Chester, 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.