News
News Briefs for the
Teen Pregnancy Prevention in Connecticut Web site was last
updated January, 2010
Although some
programs have been found effective in reducing adolescent pregnancy,
limited evidence exists on their cost-effectiveness. A new study
published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine actually
describes the estimated cost-effectiveness of the Greater New Britain
Teen Pregnancy Prevention's Pathways/Senderos Center. Pathways/Senderos
is a comprehensive neighborhood-based program which prevents unintended
pregnancies and promotes positive youth development for middle and high
school students in an impoverished, largely Latino neighborhood in New
Britain, Connecticut. The authors of the study report that the societal
costs averted by reducing adolescent births were estimated at $52,297.84
during program years, while the added economic benefits of participation
were $2,673,153.11. The authors further note that the total operating
costs exceeded economic benefits by $559,677.05 during program years, or
$1,599.08 per student. By age 30, net benefits were estimated to be
$10,474.77 per student. These researchers conclude that "the study
offers a perspective to policymakers, program planners, and communities
to consider longer-term goals when investing in programs that address
challenging problems such as teenage pregnancy in underserved youth."
Follow this link to read the original article at
http://www.ajpm-online.net/article/S0749-3797%2809%2900528-5/abstract.
The December issue
of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health features an
article which examines the importance of immigration status in the
United States among Hispanic women and their reported risky sexual
behavior. Researchers found that Hispanic women who immigrated
reported less risky sexual behavior as young adults when compared to
Hispanic women who were born in the United States. Read the complete
article on-line by clicking on
www.guttmacher.org and then click on their publications link.
The Obama Administration
appears to be taking a drastically different approach from the Bush
Administration when it comes to teen pregnancy prevention.
Congress recently passed a spending plan that would move previous funds
targeted for "abstinence only" programming to initiatives in
adolescent pregnancy prevention that are evidence-based and utilize
proven methods of preventing teen pregnancy. The FY2010
Appropriations package will include the creation of a new Office of
Adolescent Health at the Department of Health and Human Services.
It is expected that $100 million will be made available for competitive
grants to organizations in communities all around the country. For
more information, continue to watch this space.
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