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ERIC Number: EJ792764
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004
Pages: 8
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1055-6699
EISSN: N/A
Sustained Reduction in Adolescent Pregnancy Rates through School and Community-Based Education, 1982-2000
Vincent, Murray; Drane, J. Wanzer; Joshi, Praphul; Shankarnarayan, Saikiran; Nimmons, Michelle
American Journal of Health Education, v35 n2 p76-83 Mar-Apr 2004
The resident population of Bamberg County, SC, has been exposed to multiples of public health information and education interventions since October 1982 with the intent to reduce the occurrence of unintended pregnancies among unmarried adolescents. Data analyses were conducted to compare 20 years of pregnancy rates among girls aged 14-17 years for Bamberg County, the original three comparison counties, and the rates for the state of South Carolina from 1981 to 2000. Bamberg County had 3 consecutive years statistically higher than the state and the three comparison counties from 1981 through 1983, but never thereafter. When regressing pregnancy rates on the passage of time since 1980, the state of South Carolina, Bamberg County, and Williamsburg County showed statistically significant declining slopes to their trend lines, whereas Lee and Clarendon Counties did not show any significant trend whatsoever. This data analysis documents the sustained reduction of adolescent pregnancies in Bamberg County among girls aged 14-17 years during the time period from 1981 to 2000, which are most likely attributable to the continued presence of the School/Community Program from October 1982 to the present time. Sustainability of the program is attributed to community readiness for such a program, adequate funding, staff stability, competent leadership, comprehensive program planning, policy changes, and implementation of theory-based "best-practice" interventions. (Contains 4 tables and 1 figure.)
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. 1900 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Tel: 800-213-7193; Fax: 703-476-9527; e-mail: info@aahperd.org; Web site: http://www.aahperd.org
Publication Type: Information Analyses; Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: South Carolina
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A