Emerging Answers: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy (Summary)

In 1997, I wrote No Easy Answers: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. At that time, with only a few exceptions, most studies assessing the impact of programs to reduce teen sexual risk-taking failed either to measure or to find sustained long-term impact on behavior. Now, 4 years later, the research findings are definitely more positive, and there are at least five important reasons to be more optimistic that we can craft programs that help to reduce teen pregnancy. First, teen pregnancy, abortion, and birth rates began to decrease about 1991 and have continued to decline every year since then. Second, larger, more rigorous studies of some sex and HIV education programs have found sustained positive effects on behavior for as long as 3 years. Third, there is now good evidence that one program that combines both sexuality education and youth development (i.e., the Children's Aid Society—Carrera Program) can reduce pregnancies for as long as 3 years. Fourth, both service learning programs (i.e., voluntary community service with group discussions and reflection) and sex and HIV education programs (i.e., Reducing the Risk) have been found to reduce sexual risk-taking or pregnancy in several settings by independent research teams. Fifth, there is emerging evidence that some shorter, more modest clinic interventions involving educational materials coupled with one-on-one counseling may increase contraceptive use. Given the stronger and more consistent research findings demonstrating program effectiveness, this report has been titled Emerging Answers.