2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
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Online Program

334847
Structural interventions: A more promising approach in teen dating violence prevention programs implemented in urban areas


Tuesday, November 3, 2015 : 3:10 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Zupenda Davis-Shine, DrPH, MPH, MCHES, School of Nursing and Health Sciences, La Salle University, Philadelphia, PA
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Issue: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), teen dating violence has been linked to depression, anxiety, and other trauma symptoms. Victims of teen dating violence are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, drinking, recreational drug use, and sexual risk behaviors; experience suicidal ideation and exhibit poor academic performance. The violence exists in unhealthy relationships, which may be masked by social norms that adolescents have about dating relationships. Advances in technology (smart phones and social media) have taken dating violence perpetration to another level and have been highly influential in setting a new norm for teen dating relationships.

Description: The CDC has developed a teen dating violence prevention initiative which focuses on 11- to 14-year-olds in high-risk urban communities.  The curriculum aims to address mental and physical health and school performance; early intervention for teen dating violence prevention and environmental factors that increase risk factors for violence.  Currently, four urban areas have been chosen in which the initiative will be implemented from 2011 to 2016.

Recommendations:  This type of initiative can be instrumental in developing policies for school curricula and school-based youth programming.  It can also be utilized in after-school programs and other community-based programs developed to foster child development and improve academic, physical and mental health outcomes.

Lessons Learned:  Evidence-based interventions are essential to highlight interrelationship of various factors. Taking structural factors into consideration to address micro-level public health issues is a promising first step in teen dating violence prevention.

Learning Areas:

Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Describe protective and risk factors of adolescents relevant to their transition into young adulthood, specifically as these factors relate to obesity, sexual reproductive health, teen dating violence and positive mental health. Identify and frame the needs of adolescents transitioning to young adulthood within a socio-ecological framework, specifically the social determinants of health. Discuss policies relevant to healthy adolescent development as it relates to the four papers to be presented.

Keyword(s): Adolescents, Domestic Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Certified Domestic Violence Advocate and have worked in domestic violence prevention since 2008. My previous work involved implementing health education programs for high school students in urban areas. I am a Master Certified Health Education Specialist and have been certified since 2000. I also have experience in policy development for marginalized populations.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4335.0: Addressing Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health across Different Socio-Ecological Contexts