Impacts of a School‐Wide, Peer‐Led Approach to Sexuality Education: A Matched Comparison Group Design. (10th July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rotz, Dana; Goesling, Brian; Manlove, Jennifer; Welti, Kate; Trenholm, Christopher
• Is Part Of: Journal of school health. Volume 88:Number 8(2018)
• Page Start: 549
• Page End: 559
• Publication Date: 2018-07-10
• Subjects: reproductive health -- evaluation -- school health instruction -- risk behaviors; School health services -- Periodicals; School children -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; School Health Services -- Periodicals; Health Education -- Periodicals; 371.71
• DOI: 10.1111/josh.12642
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4391

Abstract

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Teen Prevention Education Program (PEP) is a school‐wide, peer‐led comprehensive sexuality education program currently implemented in more than 50 schools across 2 states. Many teen pregnancy prevention researchers and practitioners view peer‐led programs as a promising approach for reducing teen pregnancy and associated sexual risk behaviors. However, prior research on the effectiveness of these programs indicates mixed results. METHODS: We randomly assigned schools to implement Teen PEP immediately (intervention group) or on a delayed schedule (comparison group) and used propensity score matching to improve the comparability of the study groups. We surveyed students at baseline and about 6 months after the program ended. RESULTS: Teen PEP did not significantly impact rates of sexual activity or unprotected sex; however, the program led to improvements in exposure to information about sexual health topics and knowledge of preventing pregnancy and transmission of sexually transmitted infections. CONCLUSIONS: Teen PEP succeeded in accomplishing some of its most proximal goals, increasing students' access to information and knowledge. However, we found little evidence that the program affects sexual risk‐taking within 6 months of its conclusion. Future research will examine the program's longer‐term impacts on sexual risk behaviors.