CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Youth Development Behavioral Interventions Coordinated with Community Service to Reduce Sexual Risk Behaviors in Adolescents
CDC
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Youth development behavioral interventions employ a holistic approach to adolescent health and wellness, and may or may not include components that are focused directly on pregnancy and STI prevention. These interventions emphasize:
• Social, emotional, or cognitive competence training that promotes pro-social norms
• Improved decision making
• Self-determination
• Improved communication skills
• Positive bonding experiences between youth and their peers or non-parental role models
Community service may involve scheduled activities in one or more community settings such as nursing homes, hospitals, and homeless shelters. This experience provides extended opportunities for adolescents to interact with adults in the community and have a sense of membership in a group with explicit rules and responsibilities.
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends youth development focused behavioral interventions coordinated with community service on the basis of sufficient evidence that these combined approaches are effective in reducing sexual risk behaviors in participating adolescents.
• Social, emotional, or cognitive competence training that promotes pro-social norms
• Improved decision making
• Self-determination
• Improved communication skills
• Positive bonding experiences between youth and their peers or non-parental role models
Community service may involve scheduled activities in one or more community settings such as nursing homes, hospitals, and homeless shelters. This experience provides extended opportunities for adolescents to interact with adults in the community and have a sense of membership in a group with explicit rules and responsibilities.
The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends youth development focused behavioral interventions coordinated with community service on the basis of sufficient evidence that these combined approaches are effective in reducing sexual risk behaviors in participating adolescents.
Results / Accomplishments
Results of the Systematic Reviews:
Nine studies qualified for the review.
• The included studies targeted recruited adolescents (ages 10-19 years).
• Rate of pregnancy: median relative decrease of 39% (interquartile interval: -59% to -9%) over a median of 9 months of observation (6 studies)
• Self-reported sexual activity among study participants: reductions in favor of the intervention (3 studies)
• Use of birth control or condom use: inconsistent results (3 studies)
• Initiation of sexual intercourse: inconsistent results (3 studies)
• All interventions included in this review had some sexual risk reduction content.
• To be included in the review, studies had to include sexual risk behavior outcomes.
• These interventions were effective in rural, suburban, and urban U.S. communities for disadvantaged participants (students of low economic status, from racial or ethnic minorities, or from schools with low graduation rates or test scores).
• Further research is required to assess the effectiveness of these interventions on use of birth control, use of condoms and on initiation of sexual intercourse.
• Among included studies, the content and delivery differed, but most studies used interactive group sessions held in school or community settings.
Nine studies qualified for the review.
• The included studies targeted recruited adolescents (ages 10-19 years).
• Rate of pregnancy: median relative decrease of 39% (interquartile interval: -59% to -9%) over a median of 9 months of observation (6 studies)
• Self-reported sexual activity among study participants: reductions in favor of the intervention (3 studies)
• Use of birth control or condom use: inconsistent results (3 studies)
• Initiation of sexual intercourse: inconsistent results (3 studies)
• All interventions included in this review had some sexual risk reduction content.
• To be included in the review, studies had to include sexual risk behavior outcomes.
• These interventions were effective in rural, suburban, and urban U.S. communities for disadvantaged participants (students of low economic status, from racial or ethnic minorities, or from schools with low graduation rates or test scores).
• Further research is required to assess the effectiveness of these interventions on use of birth control, use of condoms and on initiation of sexual intercourse.
• Among included studies, the content and delivery differed, but most studies used interactive group sessions held in school or community settings.
About this Promising Practice
Primary Contact
Topics
Health / Adolescent Health
Health / Family Planning
Health / Family Planning
Source
Community Guide Branch Epidemiology and Analysis Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Teens