Abstract
A pregnancy prevention project, a collaborative school- and clinic-based program serving 2 Baltimore inner-city, all black schools, delivered reproductive health services at a special clinic close to the schools, while education and counseling int he clinic and in the schools utilized the same staff. The junior high and senior high was attended by more than 1700 male and female students. A social worker and a nurse practitioner were placed in each school to give classroom lectures and to meet with individuals and groups during the school day. In the afternoon they were in the clinic, where information rap sessions, private counseling and consultation, medical services, and educational programs were available. Responsible sexual behavior was emphasized along with postponement of sexual intercourse, open communication with parents, and placing sexual conduct in the context of personal goals and values. Both males and females could enroll in the clinic. Regardless of whether they registered for services, they were welcome to come to talk in the waiting room, to see films, or to enter group discussions. They were eligible for services, all of which were free, as long as they remained in 1 of the 2 schools. Thus, educational and medical interventions were accessible to these school populations, and the unified professional staff provided continuity for the students between the school and clinic programs. The privately funded intervention began in November 1981, with the clinic opening a few months later. It lasted for 3 academic years, or 28 months of clinic operation. To evaluate the program, data were collected by self-administered questionnaire 4 times in the program schools: before the program began and at the end of each of the 3 program years. All male and female students were asked to complete the detailed questionnaire on a broad range of sexual knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Data also were collected at a nonprogram junior and senior high school, as well matched as possible to the study schools. There were significant increases in the level of sexual and contraceptive knowledge. Attitudinal change was not as great. There was not much room for change, since generally positive attitudes were found toward contraceptive and negative attitudes toward adolescent reproduction even befor the program began. The program's largest effect was on clinic attendance, for boys and girls alike. So successful was the program at attracting junior high school boys that their attendance paralleled senior high school females' use of clinic facilities prior to the program's onset. For girls, too, attendance soared, resulting in a level of contraceptive protection, even at young ages, which was markedly improved. Fewer than 20% in each grade were unprotected at last intercourse after 2 or more years of program exposure. In contrast, in the nonprogram schools most grades reported 44-49% unprotected at last coitus.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 8-10 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Planned parenthood review |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 2 |
State | Published - Mar 1986 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine