Evaluation of statewide teen pregnancy prevention initiatives: challenges, methods, and lessons learned.
Evaluation of community-based, teen pregnancy prevention initiatives is complex. This article describes the challenges encountered and solutions derived while creating a comprehensive evaluation of teen pregnancy prevention initiatives across 46 counties in a southeastern state. Background information on the evaluation and highlights of the data collection constructs, methods, and tools are provided. In particular, the efforts to appropriately scope the evaluation activities and the use of qualitative and quantitative methods are discussed. In addition, the key lessons learned from the evaluation are presented. This article's discussion of contextual influences and evaluation planning and implementation efforts may benefit program practitioners and evaluators in their future evaluation activities.
Reininger
Belinda M
BM
University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health, Brownsville, Texas, USA.
Vincent
Murray
M
Griffin
Sarah F
SF
Valois
Robert F
RF
Taylor
Doug
D
Parra-Medina
Deborah
D
Evans
Alexandra
A
Rousseau
Michelle
M
D000293:Adolescent; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003256:Community Participation; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D013022:South Carolina