Three PREP Curricula: Post-Program Knowledge and Attitudes of Targeted High-Risk Youth in Missouri

• In Event: 3550 - Emerging Issues in Adolescent and Young Adult Health Risks and Behaviors

Abstract

Context: The Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) is a nationally implemented teen pregnancy prevention program with goals of reducing unintended teen pregnancies. In 2010, the state of Missouri was awarded funding to implement PREP and did so through three different curricular choices: BART, MPC, and TOP.
Methods: All programs required youth to take pre- and post-program surveys. For this study, we evaluate youth pre- and post-survey knowledge and attitudes within each curricula. We utilize a lagged regression approach to account for respective youth pre-knowledge and attitude components.
Results: Youth differ in their gained knowledge and attitudes resulting from program implementation through each curricular program. Knowledge gains are salient while attitudes remain relatively high and stable. Differences in youth outcomes by curricula suggest that youth attributes may be driving program gains.
Conclusions: Outcome findings are important in determining health and educational needs of high-risk youth in the PREP program.

Authors

• Kendal L. Lowrey, Pennsylvania State University

• Claire E. Altman, University of Missouri