Teen Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention in Middle Schools: Testing a Place-Based Curriculum to Inform Practice and Policy

• In Event: Health in Education

Abstract

Hawai`i's teen pregnancy rate is 93 pregnancies per 1,000 young women ages 15-19. This rate is higher than the national rate of 84 pregnancies per 1,000. Only nine states have higher rates of teenage pregnancy. Additionally, STIs and HIV/AIDS are major concerns among youth in Hawaii. Youth need to have the knowledge and skills to make good-decisions about sexual behavior and contraception that is grounded in their local culture yet readily accessible. This presentation will describe Pono Choices, a teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections prevention curriculum for middle school youth in Hawaii. We will present pilot study findings that served as a critical support to the development of the curriculum and preliminary data from the first cohort of students.

Authors

• Denise Lea Uehara, University of Hawaii - Manoa

• Holly M. Manaseri, University of Hawaii - Manoa

• Tammy Tom, University of Hawaii

• Kelly Drew Roberts, University of Hawaii - Manoa