New Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy and STDs

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy has released the 2007 “Emerging Answers.”  This report relays important statistics related to teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among adolescents, shows the personal and societal costs involved with teenage sexual risk-taking, and offers a summary of new research findings on programs to reduce teen pregnancy and STDs among youth. 

According to the report, there are still too-high levels of sexual risk-taking among teens.  For instance, roughly half of all high school students in the U.S. report having had sex at least once, and, although 80 to 90 percent of sexually active teens report using contraception the most recent time they had sexual intercourse, many teenagers do not use contraceptives carefully and consistently. 

Unprotected sexual activity can lead to high pregnancy and birth rates as well as high rates of STDs.  Cumulatively, more than 30 percent of teenage girls in the U.S. become pregnant at least once by the age of 20.  Additionally, about one-third of all sexually active young people become infected with an STD by age 24. 

What are the consequences of these statistics?  According to the report, when teens become pregnant or contract an STD, they, their children, and society at large often pay a significant price, both in human and monetary terms.  Teenage mothers are less likely to graduate from school, less likely to go to college, more likely to have large families, and more likely to be single – all which increase the probability that they will live in poverty.  In 2004 alone, teen childbearing cost taxpayers $9.1 billion.  In addition, STDs can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy, cancer, and other health problems and can cause long-term emotional suffering and stress.  Direct costs of curable STDs among all sexually active Americans have been estimated at $8.4 billion per year. 

The report describes the programs and approaches that have had success in reducing teen sexual risk-taking and teen pregnancy or STDs.  The list of programs shows strong evidence of impact, describes the characteristics of effective sex and STD/HIV education programs contributing to their success, and provides new evidence for other promising approaches to reducing sexual risk.  The list is divided into: 1) Programs that focus on sexual factors; 2) Programs that focus on nonsexual factors; and 3) Programs that focus on both sexual and nonsexual factors.  In addition, the publication describes promising strategies for organizations and communities that want to select, adapt, design or implement prevention programs.

Source: "Emerging Answers 2007," Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Douglas Kirby, Ph.D, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, November 2007.