Effectiveness of prevention programs for adolescent pregnancy: A meta-analysis

Using meta-analysis, the authors analyzed 32 outcome studies on the primary prevention of adolescent pregnancy and examined several moderator variables in relationship to the findings. Three outcome variables—sexual activity, contraceptive use, and pregnancy rates or childbirths—were analyzed as 3 separate and independent meta analyses. Results indicate that the pregnancy prevention programs examined have no effect on the sexual activity of adolescents. Findings provide sufficient evidence to support the efficacy of pregnancy prevention programs for increasing use of contraceptives. A smaller but significant amount of evidence supports program effectiveness in reducing pregnancy rates. A review of the studies and their characteristics, as well as other information pertinent to the results of the meta analysis is appended.