Adolescent Behavior Case Study

Additional research has explored the effects of abstinence based programs on actual behavior outcomes. Kohler, Manhart, and Lafferty (2008) compared the effects of abstinence-only and comprehensive sex education programs, operationalizing effectiveness in terms of initiation of sexual activity and teen pregnancy rates. They found that teenagers who received comprehensive sex education rather than abstinence-only or no education were significantly less likely to report a teenage pregnancy. In addition, their conclusions mirrored Sather and Kelly (2002), finding that abstinence-based programs did not reduce the likelihood of engaging in sexual activity. Kohler, Manhart, and Lafferty (2008) actually concluded that comprehensive sex education was more likely than abstinence based to reduce the percentage engaging in sexual activity. Overall, the researchers showed that comprehensive sex education, including but not limited to contraception, did not increase the prevalence of sexual activity in teenagers or the risk of teen pregnancy, while also showing the that abstinence only education produced a higher likelihood of pregnancy.

require an inclusive health education and studies have shown that their curriculum works. Studies have shown that an inclusive health curriculum can delay the “onset of sexual activity, reduce the frequency of sexual activity, reduce the number of sexual partners, and increase condom and contraceptive use” (Advocates for Youth). In a study by Douglas Kirby for the National Campaign to End Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, he discovered that two-thirds of the 48 comprehensive sex ed programs studied had positive effects (Advocates for Youth). “40 percent [of programs] delayed sexual initiation, reduced the number of sexual partners, or increased condom or contraceptive use. 30 percent reduced the frequency of sex, including a return to abstinence and 60 percent reduced unprotected sex.”, according to the study. Another study by Advocates for Youth evaluated 26 effective programs, 23 of which included comprehensive sex education. Their findings are as follows: “14 programs demonstrated a statistically significant delay in the timing of first sex. 13 programs showed statistically significant declines in teen pregnancy, HIV, or other STIs. 14 programs helped sexually active youth to increase their use of condoms. 9 programs demonstrated success at increasing use of contraception other than condoms. 13 programs showed reductions in the number of sex partners and/or increased monogamy among program participants. 10 programs helped sexually active youth to reduce the incidence of unprotected sex”. With the significant amount of success these programs have had, it is safe to implement a similar one in

Contraception helps to avoid cases where teenagers put themselves at risk to the many health dangers by unsafe sexual activities. Increasing number show that many of students are engaged in unsafe sexual activities can more than likely run the risk of contracting a STDs, this behavior affects both their studies and their lives. A 2000 GAO survey determined that, ‘More students were becoming sexually active, and it became apparent that there was an increasing need to bring reproductive health services to high school students in a way that addressed their very real problems’ (Dailard 6). Moreover, a December 2009 Indianapolis study involving 381 girls aged 14-17 indicated that about 50% contracted a minimum of one STD within 2 years of their first sexual adventure. This indicates that more and more American students are engaging in sexual activities. Contraceptive should be provided to such students in order to satisfy their personal health requirements. This discovery further supports the idea that contraceptives should be provided in public schools to deal with the situation where numerous

Many studies have shown that programs that focus on abstinence rather than contraceptive use are successful in reducing teen sexual activity”(Kim). She goes on to explain that abstinence is the best possible choice. Also that early sexual activity during teen years can have a risk of causing a contraction of a sexually transmitted disease, damage psychological constitution, lower academic achievement and cause unwanted teen pregnancy. All of these side effects are completely avoidable. The definition of “abstinence” is “Abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage as expected standard for all school age children (Kim). It is emphasized as a healthy lifestyle and is explained by its effect on social, psychological, and health aspects. She cites that “Studies have shown that abstinent teens report, on average better psychological well being and higher educational attainment than those who are sexually active. She makes sure to repeat the claim that early sexual encounters can cause early irreparable psychological damage. A 2010 study in medical journal archives of pediatrics concludes that a abstinence only education reduced sexual initiation in the group of African-American adolescents. Two years later one third of the participants had initiated in sexual activity. “By

Nevertheless, the evaluators often discover that these thoughts may need explicitly, therefore, the ideas are tried, and the evaluation to test the robustness of the theory behind the program. By utilizing and seeking to estimate statistical relationships between the characteristics of the participants, the service received, and the immediate and long-term outcome achieved from such prevention and educating the staff and student body of the services being offered. Furthermore, ensure the victims that the program is there to help under such

This research analysis is meant to measure the effects of this particular program against the goals it set out to accomplish as a means of contributing to subsequent decision making about the program and improving future programming. This applied research study is an evaluation research project of social science that is intended to supply scientifically valid information with which to guide public policy. The goals of this evaluation research are to provide feedback to policy makers in concrete and measurable terms.

This program is unique to others because it focus on five specific areas; school organization, curriculum and staff development, peer resources and school environment, parent education, and school–community linkages (Hoyt and Broom 15). The program's curriculum consists 20 classroom sessions, keeping parents involved throughout the program through newsletters and homework assignments. A study testing the effectiveness of Safer Choices by Hoyt and Broom included 3,896 ninth-grade students from 20 high schools in California and Texas. While the program had no implication in completely preventing sexual intercourse, initiation was prolonged by 18 months. However, Safer Choices had the most impact involving condom use. Exposure to the program reduced the frequency of intercourse without a condom three months prior to the initial survey. Also reducing the number of sexual partners with whom students had intercourse without a condom, and increased use of condoms and other protection against pregnancy at last intercourse (Hoyt and Broom 12). The Safer Choices program was effective in reducing important risk behaviors for HIV, other STDs, and pregnancy among

The rationale of this evaluation is to confirm that the goals of the program are being meet. That the children are being educated in making healthy choices and participating in the program. In order for the evaluation to be accurate research needs to determine if the program will be effective.

The STAY program will use a quasi-experimental design for means of evaluation. The program will not include randomization of students, however we will have an experimental group and a comparison group. Participants will be selected from three high schools within the Long Beach school district. Two high schools will receive the full program while the third will serve as a comparison school. The students in the comparison group will not receive the program whatsoever and will strictly be used to compare their result to the results of the experimental group. Pre-tests will be administered to both the experimental group and comparison group at the beginning of the program and under the same conditions. Post-tests will also be administered to both the experimental and comparison group at the end of the program and under the same conditions. This will allow the STAY staff to determine whether the program was effective or not. The Quasi-experimental design best suits STAY because the majority of the intervention will be administered during school hours. Since students are required to attend english courses each semester, Stay will use this resource as a tool to administer their intervention. Even though this design does not allow for randomization, it will allow STAY to save time and money.

Methods consisted of comparing sexual risks among adolescents who receive abstinence-only education, comprehensive sex education, and no formal sex education. The study identified that the sex education inclusive of both abstinence and comprehensive information related to contraception, reproductive health issues, and partner selection was associated with healthier sexual behaviors. Limitations identified by researchers were difficulties in precluding any firm conclusions regarding cause and effect, as well as, the inability of the survey to evaluate the quality of the sex education programs. Strengths of the study were the identification of similar research studies which indicated similar results regarding the effect of teens’ perceptions regarding risky sexual activities based on the given sex education. Furthermore, the researchers used a multivariate analysis as a control with the varied data. There was an identified need for more specific national surveys regarding teen sexual activity in relation to their given sex education to ensure better data.

Subjective data: complaints of blood tinged urine, incomplete emptying of bladder, burning on urination reported pain rated 5 on 1-10 scale

This particular source is an academic journal which goes into immense detail about the high rates of teen pregnancy and sex education programs the United States government provides. The article is informative and supportive of the sex education programs and explains the success rates of these programs in reducing teen pregnancy. Author Marica Clemmitt, former editor for other scholarly articles involving Medicine and Health, keeps her work un-biased while only presenting the facts. The vast amount of statistics seems to direct her audience to families or parents to be advised of the new programs that the government offers. Also to inform parents that they play an important role in their teenager’s sex education as well as the programs offered. The source provided efficient support for the intended age group and emphasizes on the concepts of the potential solutions, which makes the source most useful. Lastly, this source was found on CQ Research after searching the key words “teen pregnancy.”

Talking to young people about sex will not encourage them to experiment sexually. Instead, it will educate students on the dangers of having unprotected sex and actions to keep themselves safe (AVERT.org, n.d.). For instance, sex education in schools will teach students the various birth control methods. It is important to teach students the use and the cost of birth control as well as the suitable health condition to use a birth control method (Epigee Women’s Health, n.d.). The aim here is not to encourage students to be involved in sexual activities but to prevent unwanted pregnancy among adolescents and school going children. Statistics from the World Health Organization (2012) reported that pregnancy and other childbirth related problems is the number one killer of young women. Most youngsters stated that they did not know that there are ways to prevent pregnancy in the first place. Thus, it is important to keep children educated about their sexuality so that they will not get themselves into tough situations at a very young age that will not only ruin their live but also put their own lives in

This study is designed to focus on the effectiveness of school based sex education programs in order to prevent teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s)/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). School districts across the United States have been teaching sex education program, however each varies with the type of program that is taught. The number of adolescents who engage in sexual activities has declined in past years. Nonetheless, the United States being one of the most industrialized nations still has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy. Risky sexual behaviors likewise attribute to the number of individuals who live with sexually STD’s/HIV/AIDS. Of high school students

The study will recruit approximately 945 students attending grades 9-12 in nine districts of Texas. The total number of participants will consist of three groups, all from the 2016-2017 school year. The first group did not participate in neither sex education program offered by the school, the second group participated in abstinence-only sex education, and the third group participated in a comprehensive sex education program. The research team make sure that boys and girls and each school grade are represented equally. All schools are located in urban areas. The representative sample will be selected using simple random sampling of Hispanic students from public schools only. Students will not be able to