HIV, Other STIs, and Teen Pregnancy: Youth Development Behavioral Interventions to Reduce Sexual Risk Behaviors in Adolescents Coordinated with – Sports or Club Participation
Findings and Recommendations
The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) finds insufficient evidence to support youth development behavioral interventions coordinated with sports or club participation to reduce sexual risk behaviors among adolescents. Evidence is considered insufficient because there were too few studies of sufficient quality to draw a conclusion on the effectiveness of this combination of interventions.
All of the interventions evaluated in this review included sexual behavior or risk reduction content as part of the behavioral intervention, although the emphasis on this component varied. The CPSTF acknowledges that this review, focused on the subset of intervention studies that evaluated change in sexual risk behavior outcomes, does not provide a complete, systematic assessment of all of the evidence regarding overall effectiveness of these combined approaches.
The CPSTF has related findings for youth development interventions coordinated with the following:
- Community service (recommended)
- Work or vocational training (insufficient evidence)
The full CPSTF Finding and Rationale Statement and supporting documents for HIV, Other STIs, and Teen Pregnancy: Youth Development Behavioral Interventions to Reduce Sexual Risk Behaviors in Adolescents Coordinated with — Sports or Club Participation are available in The Community Guide Collection on CDC Stacks.
Intervention
Youth development behavioral interventions employ a holistic approach to adolescent health and wellness, and may or may not include components that are focused directly on pregnancy and STI prevention. These interventions emphasize:
- Social, emotional, or cognitive competence training that promotes pro-social norms
- Improved decision making
- Self-determination
- Positive bonding experiences between youth and their peers or non-parental role models
Sports or club components involve participation in academic, arts or athletic teams such as theater arts, homework club, basketball team, boys and girls club, etc. Such participation provides extended opportunities for adolescents to interact with adults in the community and have a sense of membership in a group with explicit rules and responsibilities.
About The Systematic Review
The CPSTF finding is based on evidence from a systematic review of 1 study (search period 1980-2008). The systematic review was conducted on behalf of the CPSTF by a team of specialists in systematic review methods, and in research, practice, and policy related to preventing HIV, other STIs, and teen pregnancy.
Study Characteristics
Study characteristics of this intervention were not assessed because CPSTF did not have enough information to determine if the intervention works.
Summary of Results
- The one study that qualified for the review reported a 41% reduction in self-reported pregnancy among program participants, but this effect could not be clearly attributed to youth development behavioral interventions with sports or club participation.
Summary of Economic Evidence
An economic review of this intervention was not conducted because CPSTF did not have enough information to determine if the intervention works.
Applicability
Applicability of this intervention across different settings and populations was not assessed because CPSTF did not have enough information to determine if the intervention works.
Evidence Gaps
Evidence gaps for this intervention were not assessed because CPSTF did not have enough information to determine if the intervention works.
Implementation Considerations and Resources
CPSTF did not have enough evidence to determine whether the intervention is or is not effective. This does not mean that the intervention does not work, but rather that additional research is needed to determine whether or not the intervention is effective.