Outcomes of a Culturally-Based Sexually Risk Reduction Intervention for Adolescents in Puerto Rico: A Cohort Evaluation Report

Abstract

Objective: Teen pregnancy and sexually risky behaviors among adolescents represent a major public health concern. Despite reduction of teen birth rates, Hispanic adolescents still report higher rates in comparison to other racial and ethnic groups. Under uncontrolled community and school settings, iCuidate! was implemented for assisting Puerto Rican youth reduce sexual risk behaviors in high risk communities. Methods: A prospective assessment was conducted among adolescents that participated in the intervention. A stratified probabilistic sample of 185 adolescents was re-contacted and comparisons were made between participants that completed and not completed the intervention in terms of intent to have sex, sexual encounters, contraceptive methods, teen pregnancy, and improvement in life coping skills. Results: After intervention’s completion participation, adolescents were more likely to ask sexual partner to use any birth control or condom that non-completers. Completers reported 75% less probability of reporting sex ever than those non-completers after controlling for age and gender. They also were more likely to indicate higher intentions to have sex. Among those adolescents that indicated not having sex before starting the intervention, 12.0% had sex and from those that had sex after the intervention, 1.2% reported being pregnant or gotten someone pregnant. Conclusions: The investigation found that an impact in knowledge and attitudes were experienced. Despite teen pregnancy prevention did not reach statistical significance, it resulted in lower incidence than the general population of adolescents.iCuidate! resulted effective in changing the perception towards abstinence, condom utilization, and in delaying age of first sexual encounter.