Educate
Sexually Transmitted
Diseases & Teen Pregnancy
Brianna Loeck
Principles of Health Behavior - MPH 515
Kimberly Brodie
August 22, 2013
Prevent
 Background
 Target
Population
 The Precaution Adoption Process Model (PAPM)
 Use of theory in practice
 Constructs of the Think Smart program
 Conclusion
In the United States, 900,000 adolescents (15 to
19-year-olds) became pregnant in 1996.
 There are twice as many teenage pregnancies in the
United States each year as there are in England and
Canada, and eight times as many as in Japan.
 After three decades of steady increases, the
proportion of teenagers 15 to 19 years old who were
sexually active decreased by 50 percent during the
mid 1990s.
 Socioeconomic factors and limited life options,
rather than ethnic or cultural background, place
many youth at higher risk for unintended pregnancy.


The United States ranks the highest regarding STD’s and
teen pregnancies.

In 2009, 400,000 teen girls aged 15-19 gave birth,
8,300 young adults aged 13-24 years contract HIV, and
19 million contracted STD’s such as gonorrhea,
chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and genital herpes (CDC,
2013).

Fortunately, the rates of contraceptive and condom use
are increasing, which have created a decrease in rates of
sexual activity and teen pregnancy. However, the amount
of young people engaging in sexual activity at an early
age is increasing.
The PAPM represents qualitatively different patterns of behavior,
beliefs, and experience and that the factors that produce transitions
between stages vary depending on the specific transition being
considered.
This is a great model for targeting a certain population (teens) in order
to influence and create healthy behaviors (condom use).
 Teen




Pregnancy Prevention Program
Massachusetts
Primary target is at-risk youth, age 10-19
Additional target audiences for broad-based education and
awareness activities are parents, agency
Science-based program monitored through a Management
Information System (MIS).
Outcome Goals
 Increased abstinence and delayed onset of sexual activity
among pre-adolescent and adolescent males and females
 Reduced rates of youth engaging in health-related risk
behaviors including, but not limited to, risky sexual behaviors
 Decreased incidence of teen pregnancies and births, STDs,
and HIV infection

Adolescent Health and Youth Development (AHYD)
Located in Georgia within the Division of Public Health,
Health Promotions and Disease Prevention Programs
 The AHYD Unit was established as a result of the teenage
pregnancy prevention initiative funded by the Georgia
General Assembly beginning in 1998
 To aim of the teenage pregnancy prevention initiative is to
prevent welfare dependency and improve economic
opportunity and responsible parenting.
 Include programs for youth such as abstinence education,
drug and alcohol prevention education, adolescent
reproductive health services; parent educational
seminars; and training programs designed to increase
community awareness about teen pregnancy.

 Wyman’s




Teen Outreach Program (TOP)
St. Louis, Missouri
It is an evidence-based best practice program
specifically designed for teens in 6th to 12th grade
guided by an engaging and relevant nine-month
curriculum
The program’s mission is to enable teens from
economically disadvantaged circumstances to lead
successful lives and build strong communities
TOP has proven to be successful by lowering risk of
suspension by 52%, lowering risk of course failure by
60%, lowering risk of pregnancy by 53% and lowering
risk of school dropout by 60%
THINK SMART- Focuses on teenagers in middle and high school,
reinforcing proper education and prevention techniques regarding STD’s
and teen pregnancy. The goal is to implement a Sex Education course
into schools. Health class will now only focus on nutrition and fitness.
This would create increased hours of comprehensive sexual education.
_____________________________________________________________
In order for this program to be successful, it will include:

Behavioral goals, teaching methods, and resources that are ageappropriate, developmentally appropriate, and culturally competent

Based on theoretical approaches that have been proven to be
effective

Provides basic, accurate information about the risks of unprotected
sexual intercourse and how to avoid unprotected sexual intercourse

Activities that address peer pressure and cultural pressure

Practice decision making, communication, negotiation, and refusal
skills

Utilizes teachers who are well-trained, comfortable, and believe in the
program
Comprehensive education is key regarding
prevention and the adoption of healthy behaviors.
 Several children do not receive sexual education
from their parents. Parent education is an extremely
important factor.
 Surveys and counseling sessions would be
completed before and after the program based on
the evaluation of knowledge and beliefs
 Though teen pregnancy has dropped over the
decades, STD’s are still on the rise and continue to
be a major issue. This is why more programs on
sexual education should be implemented.
