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Adolescent Reproductive Health: Research |
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The Adolescent Reproductive Health program supports innovative domestic
research to prevent unintended teen pregnancy and to integrate STD/HIV
prevention into these efforts. Funded studies use epidemiological,
behavioral and clinical approaches and focus on increasing understanding of
the relationship between social and environmental factors and attitudes and
behaviors associated with youth development and pregnancy risk.
Adolescent Reproductive Health program research studies include the
following:
- Youth development approaches to promote adolescent reproductive
health.
- Cultural influences on pregnancy intentions and reproductive health,
with a focus on Latino populations.
- Other social influences (e.g., the role of families, access to
health services, partner characteristics) on adolescent behavior,
including abstinence, delayed initiation, and contraceptive use.
Currently funded research includes the following:
Longitudinal Study
of Youth Assets and Teen Pregnancy*
Roy Oman and colleagues at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences are
investigating relationships among youth assets, teen pregnancy, sexual risk
behaviors and related risk behaviors. Youth development approaches such as
these are based on the assumption that youth who meet their developmental
goals are also less likely to engage in risk behavior; for example, youth
who communicate with their parents, are connected to school and have a
positive vision of their future are less likely to engage in risk behavior
that jeopardizes those relationships and future goals. Dr. Oman’s study uses
a 5-year longitudinal design that collects information from the same
youth/parent pairs at 1-year intervals. The study design will allow the
researchers to look at different ages of development and if and how youth
assets are related to reducing teen sexual behavior and related risk
behaviors.
Intervention Research on Youth Development to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
Christine Markham and colleagues at University of Texas in Houston are
developing an innovative community-based model for a youth development
intervention to prevent teen pregnancy. This program is focused on a
predominantly Latino youth population in Houston, Texas, and will comprise a
collaborative network of community service providers. Program components and
activities will be pilot tested with youth, parents, and service providers
in Year 2, and an evaluation study will be developed to inform a future
study.
Family and Cultural Influences on Sex Among Latino Youth*
Vincent Guilamo-Ramos and colleagues at Columbia University are studying
social, family, and cultural factors and how they are associated with
adolescent decision making in Latino youth. Latino adolescents and their
mothers will be interviewed over a 3-year period as these adolescents are
transitioning from middle school to high school. This study will examine the
role of
“ familialismo” (family relationships and communication) and
“machismo/marianismo” (gender roles and norms) and how these concepts
affect adolescent romantic relationships and sexual risk activity as well as
the effects of developmental dynamics and acculturation in this process.
Unintended Pregnancy Among Young Latinos in Rural Areas*
Marie Harvey and colleagues at Oregon State University are studying sexual
risk behavior, contraceptive use and HIV/STI prevention among young Latinos
in rural settings. The study is being implemented in two phases. Phase 1
uses qualitative methodologies to explore Latino men’s and women’s
contraceptive use and HIV/STI prevention methods. In Phase 2 researchers
will conduct a cross sectional survey to determine risk and protective
factors associated with contraceptive use and sexual risk and protective
behavior among young Latinos.
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Page last reviewed: 10/8/08
Page last modified: 10/8/08
Content source:
Division of Reproductive Health,
National Center for Chronic
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion> |
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