What is a Science-Based Approach to Teen Pregnancy Prevention?
Using science-based approaches for teen pregnancy prevention helps ensure that programs have a greater chance of succeeding. A science-based approach includes the following: • Uses demographic, epidemiological, and social science research to identify populations at risk for early pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, and identifies the risk and protective factors for those populations. • Uses health behavior or health education theory for selecting risk and protective factors that will be addressed by the program, and helps select intervention activities. • Uses a logic model to link risk and protective factors with program strategies and outcomes. • Selects, adapting if necessary, and implements rigorously evaluated programs. • Conducts process and outcome evaluation of the implemented program, and modifies approach based on results.
