Why We Need Evidence-Based, Community-Wide Approaches for Prevention of Teen Pregnancy

• Published in: Journal of adolescent health Vol. 60; no. 3; pp. S3 - S6
• Main Authors: Barfield, Wanda D., M.D., M.P.H, Warner, Lee, Ph.D., M.P.H, Kappeler, Evelyn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent pregnancy; African Americans; Childbearing; Children & youth; Community; Community Health Services - methods; Ethnicity; Evidence-Based Medicine - methods; Female; Hispanic Americans; Hispanic people; Humans; Pediatrics; Pregnancy; Pregnancy in Adolescence - prevention & control; Prevention programs; Primary prevention; Sex Education - methods; Sexual behavior; Teenage pregnancy; Unintended pregnancy; United States; United States; Adolescent pregnancy; Primary prevention; Unintended pregnancy; Sexual behavior
• ISSN: 1054-139X; 1879-1972; 1879-1972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.12.007

Abstract Teen pregnancy and childbearing have declined over the past two decades to historic lows. The most recent declines have occurred during a time of coordinated national efforts focused on teen pregnancy. This article highlights a federal partnership to reduce teen pregnancy through the implementation of innovative, evidence-based approaches in affected communities, with a focus on reaching African-American and Latino/Hispanic youth. This initiative has the potential to transform the design and implementation of future teen pregnancy prevention efforts and provide a model that can be replicated in communities across the nation.