Effectiveness in delaying the initiation of sexual intercourse of girls aged 12-14. Two components of the Girls Incorporated Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy Program
Postrado, L.T.; Nicholson, H.J.
Youth and Society 23(3): 356-379
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-118X PMID: 12156354 DOI: 10.1177/0044118x92023003005Document Number: 278507
The Girls Incorporated, formerly Girls Clubs of America, program in Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy, which was initiated in 1985, was evaluated to obtain information about sexual behavior and attitudes related to pregnancy, educational and career expectations, and sociodemographic characteristics, and to ascertain the effectiveness of 2 components for girls aged 12-14 in delaying early sexual involvement. The theoretical base of intervention is discussed and delineation of 3 themes recurrent in the literature. Program interventions are also described. The 2 program components evaluated were Will Power/Won't Power which taught skill in general and specific assertiveness, and Growing Together, which facilitated communication between parents and daughters. The sample consisted of 412 virgin girls 12-14 years, of which 25% did not participate in either program, from communities in which the adolescent pregnancy rate was higher than the national average. Participants were required to have completed 1 complete year which included before and after surveys. 257 participated in Will Power/Won't Power; 84 in Growing Together; and 46 in both programs. Participants and nonparticipants were similar in background characteristics. The profile was one of primarily African American 12 year olds of a Protestant religion. Growing Together participants were slightly different and less likely to engage in early sexual intercourse. The findings of the bivariate and logistic regression analyses were that nonparticipants were 2.5 times more likely to initiate sexual intercourse during the study year than participants in Growing Together, but this was only marginally statistically significant. It is suggested however that when controlling for age, religion, race and having contact with a pregnant teen that Growing Together participation contributed to a delay in the initiation of sexual intercourse. Participation in Will Power did not account for any differences in likelihood of initiating sexual activity, although those who participated for a short time were 3 times more likely to initiate sexual activity than those participating longer. Analysis of selection bias among the 3 groups found that at best there was a weak indication of selection bias on the academic performance variable, but no relationship on the contact with a teen pregnancy variable. The authors concluded that the findings were consistent, although not always statistically significant, and that the Will Power, and particularly both programs, delayed initiation of sexual activity. Affiliate implementation occurred before evaluation with some minor changes. Further refinements are expected based on continual analysis of impact.