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Abstract

Objective: To describes the development of Project Passport, a perinatal intervention designed to reduce negative outcomes among pregnant teens. Methods: A logic model guided the planning, development and evaluation plan for the intervention. It included the selection of health goals, behaviors to be targeted, determinants of the selected behaviors, and activities to impact each selected determinant. Results: The process resulted in the formulation of an intervention that incorporates CenteringPregnancy, a group model of prenatal care, Positive Youth Development components, and male involvement. The evaluation examines the effectiveness of the intervention in enhancing health, educational and psychosocial outcomes among pregnant adolescents. Conclusions: The present program was designed to address an important gap in evidence-based interventions targeting pregnant adolescents and their partners.

Key Take Away Points

  • Adolescent childbearing is a public health concern due to the associated adverse outcomes for mothers and their children.
  • Evidence-based interventions targeting pregnant adolescents and their partners are lacking.
  • The proposed comprehensive intervention may provide a model for other similar communities.

Author Biography

Ruth S. Buzi, LCSW, PhD is an Associate Professor and Director of Social Services at the Baylor College of Medicine Teen Health Clinic. She supervises clinical social workers at the different clinic sites, participates in grant writing, program development, and research on adolescents’ health issues. Her research is related to teen pregnancy, adolescent fatherhood, male health, sexual health, sexual abuse, and mental health.

Peggy B. Smith, Ph.D., a Professor in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Psychology, and Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, and Director of the Teen Health Clinic, a system of eight clinics providing primary and reproductive health care to adolescents and young adults. She is responsible for overall direction, evaluation, and funding of this county-wide system of care. Dr. Smith conducts research related to teenage sexuality and pregnancy and male health.

Constance M. Wiemann, PhD is an Associate Professor and Director of Research for the Section of Adolescent Medicine & Sports Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Her program of research has focused on pregnant and parenting adolescents, with emphasis on high risk sexual behaviors, substance use, intimate partner violence, repeat pregnancy, depression, breastfeeding, stigma and social support. She has served as lead evaluator for several federally funded programs.

Melissa F. Peskin, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas School Of Public Health. She is also Associate Director for Evaluation for the University of Texas Prevention Research Center and she has expertise in the development, implementation, and evaluation of adolescent health promotion programs.

Mariam R. Chacko, M.D. is Professor of Pediatrics in the Section of Adolescent & Sports Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine. She is board certified in Pediatrics and in Adolescent Medicine and provides clinical services to young people in a variety of settings and teaches adolescent medicine. She is also Medical Director of the Baylor Teen Health Clinics. Dr. Chacko also conducts clinical research in reproductive health issues in adolescent and young adult women.

Claudia A. Kozinetz, Ph.D., M.P.H. is Professor and Head, Section of Epidemiology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine. Her program of research focuses on the epidemiology of child health, preconception through the lifespan.

Acknowledgements

This project was funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Programs (OAPP).

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