Reviews the literature to identify the most important antecedents associated with adolescent initiation of sex, contraception use, and pregnancy. Results indicate that over 100 antecedents create a complex, detailed picture of the correlates of adolescent sexual behaviors. They describe characteristics of adolescents themselves, their partners,…

This report discusses the ongoing movement to provide health care and health information to adolescents through school-based clinics and other programs. The report begins with an overview of programs, focusing on: the unique health needs of adolescents; the growth in the number of school-based clinics; goals and objectives of the special programs;…

This article compares the effects of sexuality education programs with the results of other educational programs and discusses why sex education programs may increase knowledge but may not effectively change behavior. Reasons to offer sexuality education are discussed. (Author/MT)

High school sex education courses appear to facilitate attitudinal change in student tolerance of the sexual practices of others, but the personal value system of the student remains intact. Such programs appear to have little effect on the amount of sexual behavior while increasing the use of contraceptive methods among sexually active students.…

An evaluation of the reproductive health programs of six diverse school-based clinics measured the impact of the clinics on sexual behavior and contraceptive use. All six clinics served low-income populations; at five of them, the great majority of the students were black. An analysis of student visits by type of care given found that these…

Potentially important features and outcomes of sex education programs are examined in relation to program goals of reducing unwanted adolescent pregnancy and the facilitation of positive and fulfilling sexuality. A survey of sex education professionals indicates wide agreement on features and outcomes, as well as the compatibility of goals. (JMF)

Examines progress in the research on adolescent sexual behavior and pregnancy over the past 20 years, discussing advances in research methodology in five areas, advances in understanding teen pregnancy and finding solutions to problems in five areas, and two new research-based pillars for pregnancy prevention (sex- and HIV-education programs and…

Five studies that measure abstinence-only programs' effects found no significant evidence that these programs help delay onset of intercourse. Evaluations of 30 abstinence-plus programs for sexuality and HIV education show these programs do not increase adolescent sexual intercourse. Common curriculum characteristics are outlined. (Contains 18…

Article reviews the major school-based approaches implemented during the last two decades to reduce sexual risk-taking behaviors, examining their evidence for success and providing recommendations for effective programs and program evaluations. The article focuses on programs that educators believed would reduce unprotected sex. (SM)

This report summarizes three bodies of research on teenage pregnancy and programs to reduce the risk of teenage pregnancy. Studies included in this report were completed in 1980 or later, conducted in the United States or Canada, targeted adolescents, employed an experimental or quasi-experimental design, had a sample size of at least 100 in the…

This paper reviews published research on school-based programs to reduce sexual risk-taking behaviors. Analysis of 23 studies of school-based programs supports several conclusions about these programs. About 93 percent of all high schools offer sexuality or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) education, and the majority of these programs include…