PURPOSE: To illustrate how rural adolescents' needs for pregnancy prevention and improved birth outcomes are currently being addressed, and to suggest strategies for future programs. METHODS: Local and state-level informants knowledgeable about services to adolescents in the Southeastern United States were identified. Semistructured interviews were used to determine the program start date and time frame, funding sources, target population, participating counties, implementing agency or organization, specific program services, and status of program activities. These programs were categorized by the type of services offered and the population targeted. RESULTS: The most common adolescent services in the rural Southeast attempt either to improve life options of youth, reduce sexual activity, or provide prenatal and postnatal care. Unlike urban areas where there are a variety of family planning providers, in the rural Southeast, health departments are the primary source of family planning for adolescents. There are no abortion providers in most rural areas of the Southeast. The majority of rural programs that include adolescents among the population served are developed for all women rather than specifically for adolescents. Programs specific to rural adolescents are described. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of programs in the rural Southeast address only selected adolescent health issues. Successful interventions require locally supported, multipronged, intensive approaches with consistent messages targeted to high-risk populations. Evaluation tools are needed to determine the effectiveness of each component of prevention programs.
PURPOSE: To illustrate how rural adolescents' needs for pregnancy prevention and improved birth outcomes are currently being addressed, and to suggest strategies for future programs. METHODS: Local and state-level informants knowledgeable about services to adolescents in the Southeastern United States were identified. Semistructured interviews were used to determine the program start date and time frame, funding sources, target population, participating counties, implementing agency or organization, specific program services, and status of program activities. These programs were categorized by the type of services offered and the population targeted. RESULTS: The most common adolescent services in the rural Southeast attempt either to improve life options of youth, reduce sexual activity, or provide prenatal and postnatal care. Unlike urban areas where there are a variety of family planning providers, in the rural Southeast, health departments are the primary source of family planning for adolescents. There are no abortion providers in most rural areas of the Southeast. The majority of rural programs that include adolescents among the population served are developed for all women rather than specifically for adolescents. Programs specific to rural adolescents are described. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of programs in the rural Southeast address only selected adolescent health issues. Successful interventions require locally supported, multipronged, intensive approaches with consistent messages targeted to high-risk populations. Evaluation tools are needed to determine the effectiveness of each component of prevention programs.
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Keywords:
Adolescent Pregnancy; Adolescents; Adolescents, Female; Age Factors; Americas; Delivery Of Health Care; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Family Planning; Family Planning Programs; Fertility; Health; Health Services; Literature Review; Maternal Health Services; Maternal-child Health Services; North America; Northern America; Organization And Administration; Population; Population Characteristics; Population Dynamics; Prenatal Care; Primary Health Care; Program Effectiveness; Program Evaluation; Programs; Reproductive Behavior; Research Report; Rural Health Services; Rural Population--women; United States; Youth