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science-based approaches (sbas) have a number of specific characteristics. first, the development and implementation of an sba must be fully informed by rigorous research. second, an sba must use strategies accepted in the scientific community as thorough and reliable. third, the evaluation of an sba must have shown it to be effective in achieving positive and intended outcomes, thereby suggesting that the approach will achieve similar outcomes when applied to populations similar to the original target group. programs that fit these criteria are often published in peer-reviewed journals, helping the reader to know that the evaluation was rigorous.
in particular, a science-based approach in teen pregnancy prevention is a curriculum and/or program that has been shown to:
- reduce the incidence of unwanted sexual health outcomes, such as pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (stis) among youth exposed to the program relative to a control or comparison group; and/or
- influence the sexual behavior of youth in a desired direction. for example, it might successfully: reduce the percent of youth who initiate sex by a certain age; reduce the incidence of unprotected sex among sexually active program participants; reduce the number of sexual partners among sexually active youth; increase the number of sexually active youth who consistently use condoms or contraception; and/or increase the number of sexually active youth who remain in a monogamous relationship. these changes must be measured in relation to a control or comparison group.
talking points, like the ones listed here, can help program planners and advocates effectively educate and persuade organizations and decision makers to rely on science-based approaches and programs for teen pregnancy prevention. these talking points may not answer every question, but they can help make clear, coherent arguments for science-based programs and approaches.
the left column features critical talking points. the column on the right provides background information that may be useful in responding to questions or challenges.
basic talking points |
you need to know… |
1. preventing teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (stis) among youth should be a priority for our community. |
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2. ‘abstinence-only’ programs are ineffective in changing behaviors related to teen pregnancy and/or stis. |
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3. to find programs that are effective, communities should use three elements to guide their choice, adaptation, and use of prevention programs. these three elements are a) evaluated programs, b) research on risk and protective factors, b) science, and c) the community’s core values. |
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4. experts have identified a number of effective, science-based programs that reduce sexual risk taking behaviors and/or improve teens’ sexual health outcomes (rates of pregnancy or stis). |
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5. to be proven effective, programs must meet rigorous evaluation standards. |
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6. several programs exist that are proven effective for diverse populations, ages, and locales. |
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7. americans overwhelmingly support the use of programs that provide youth with comprehensive information about sexual health. |
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8. preventing teen pregnancy, stis, and hiv costs far less than providing services and programs for teen parents and their children, and treatment of stis and hiv/aids. |
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written by elizabeth umbro, mpp, 喀麦隆vs巴西波胆分析 intern; with contributions from laura davis, ma; barbara huberman, rn, med; tom klaus, ms, and sue alford, mls. © 2009 喀麦隆vs巴西波胆分析
references:
- hamilton b et al. “births: preliminary data for 2007.” national vital statistics reports 2009; 57(12): 1-23.
- alford s. adolescent sexual health in europe and the u.s. – why the difference? washington, dc: 喀麦隆vs巴西波胆分析 , 2008. //www.k12fl.com/storage/advfy/documents/fsest.pdf; accessed 1/5/2009
- hauser d. five years of abstinence-only-until-marriage education: assessing the impact [title v state evaluations]. washington, dc: 喀麦隆vs巴西波胆分析 , 2004; //www.k12fl.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=623&itemid=177; accessed 4/28/2008.
- trenholm c, devaney b, fortson k, quay l, wheeler j, clark m. impacts of four title v, section 410 abstinence education programs. princeton nj: mathematica policy research, 2007.
- barnett jf, hurst cs. abstinence education for rural youth: an evaluation of the life’s walk program. journal of school health 2003;73:264-268.
- barnett je. an evaluation of an abstinence-only sex education program in rural communities. presentation at the 2002 annual meeting of the american educational research association.
- bearman ps, brückner h. promising the future: virginity pledges and first intercourse. american journal of sociology 2001; 106:859-912.
- kirby d. emerging answers 2007. washington, dc: national campaign to prevent teen pregnancy, 2007.
- alford s, cheetham n. hauser d. science and success in developing countries: holistic programs that work to prevent teen pregnancy, hiv & sexually transmitted infections. washington, dc: 喀麦隆vs巴西波胆分析
, 2005; //www.k12fl.com/storage/advfy/documents
/sciencesuccess_developing_es.pdf ; accessed 4/28/2008. - alford s et al. science and success: sex education and other programs that work to prevent teen pregnancy, hiv & sexually transmitted infections. 2nd edition. washington, dc: 喀麦隆vs巴西波胆分析 , 2008
- kirby d. emerging answers: research findings on programs to reduce teen pregnancy. washington, dc: national campaign to prevent teen pregnancy, 2001.
- the guttmacher institute. u.s. teenage pregnancy statistics: national and state trends by race and ethnicity. new york, ny: author, 2006
- national campaign to prevent teen pregnancy. with one voice 2007: america’s adults and teens sound off about teen pregnancy. washington, dc: author, 2007.
- national public radio, kaiser family foundation, kennedy school of government. sex education in america: npr/kaiser/kennedy school poll. menlo park, ca: kaiser family foundation, 2004.
- peter d. hart research associates. memorandum: application of research findings, written to planned parenthood federation of american and national women’s law center, 12 july 2007. washington, dc: author; http://www.nwlc.org/pdf/7-12-07interestedpartiesmemo.pdf; accessed 4/28/2008.
- chesson hw, blandford jm, gift tl, tao g, irwin kl. the estimated direct medical cost of sexually transmitted diseases among american youth, 2000. perspectives on sexual and reproductive health 2004; 36(1):11-19; http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/psrh/full/3601104.pdf; accessed 4/28.2008.
- national campaign to prevent teen pregnancy. not just another single issue: teen pregnancy’s link to other critical social 世界杯赛程2022赛程表中国 . washington, dc: author, 2002.
- howell m. the history of federal abstinence-only funding. washington, dc: 喀麦隆vs巴西波胆分析
, 2007; //www.k12fl.com/storage/advfy/documents/
fshistoryabonly.pdf ; accessed 4/28/2008. - amaral g, foster dg. cost-benefit analysis of the california family pact program for calendar year 2002. san francisco: center for reproductive health research and policy, 2005.
- wang ly et al. economic evaluation of safer choices: a school-based hiv, std and pregnancy prevention program. abstr search tools 1999 natl hiv prev conf natl hiv prev conf 1999 atlanta ga. 1999 aug 29-sep 1; (abstract no. 146).
- amaral g, foster dg. cost-benefit analysis of the california family pact program for calendar year 2002. san francisco: center for reproductive health research and policy, 2005.
funding for this publication was made possible (in part) by a cooperative agreement (grant #: 5u58/dp324962-03 revised) with the centers for disease control and prevention (cdc). any part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, distributed, and adapted, without permission of the authors or the publisher, provided that the materials are not copied, distributed, or adapted for commercial gain and provided that the authors and 喀麦隆vs巴西波胆分析 are credited as the source on all copies, reproductions, distributions, and adaptations of the material.
this publication is a part of the strategies for organizational success series.