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Based upon the premise that a teen's first pregnancy may stem from
underlying, unmet needs, this clinic-based program provides medical care,
psychosocial support, and education to the adolescent, her partner, and her
family. The comprehensive approach to service emphasizes early intervention,
beginning during pregnancy. For the duration of the intervention, each patient
and her infant remain with a team of providers: an obstetrician-gynecologist,
pediatrician, social worker, and health educator. The program also includes a
physician/ practitioner 24 hour "on call" system and a reproductive
health and family life education program, featuring bi-weekly classes for the
patient, her partner, and family. In an effort to prevent repeat pregnancy and
STDs, the teen's partner is encouraged to participate in education, support,
and counseling activities. A field study of the intervention was conducted in
Queens, New York, with 498 adolescents and their infants. Compared to a control
group of teen mothers, program participants were more likely to attend and
graduate from school and (for those who were sexually active) use regular
contraception; additionally, both they and their infants experienced
significantly better health. Moreover, the repeat pregnancy rate was
significantly lower for program participants compared to the control group.
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