Randomized controlled trial of 'teens and toddlers': a teenage pregnancy prevention intervention combining youth development and voluntary service in a nursery.
Bonell, Chris;
Maisey, Ruth;
Speight, Svetlana;
Purdon, Susan;
Keogh, Peter;
Wollny, Ivonne;
Sorhaindo, Annik;
Wellings, Kaye;
(2013)
Randomized controlled trial of 'teens and toddlers': a teenage pregnancy prevention intervention combining youth development and voluntary service in a nursery.
Journal of adolescence, 36 (5).
pp. 859-870.
ISSN 0140-1971
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2013.07.005
Permanent Identifier
Use this Digital Object Identifier when citing or linking to this resource.
We conducted an independent evaluation of the "Teens and Toddlers" intervention. Our randomized trial examined effects on self-reported last sex without contraception, >1 episode of sex without contraception in previous 3 months, expectation of teenage parenthood and youth development score, plus secondary outcomes among 449 at-risk girls age 13/14 in England. The intervention involves 18-20 weekly sessions in pre-school nurseries. Response rates were 95% post-intervention and 91% one year later. At follow-up two, there was no evidence of intervention benefits for primary outcomes and a positive impact for our secondary outcome, low self-esteem. At follow-up one, there was no evidence of benefits for our primary outcomes but evidence of benefits for our secondary outcomes: low self-esteem; low sexual health knowledge; and difficulty discussing the contraceptive pill. The intervention should be refined, with a clearer logic model and more emphasis on sex education, and re-evaluated.