Reducing sexual risk with practice of periodic secondary abstinence.
OBJECTIVE
Test a novel intervention to help sexually experienced girls increase abstinence behaviors and attitudes.


METHODS
A quasi-experimental repeated measures design using qualitative and quantitative data.


METHODS
Two alternative public schools.


METHODS
Thirty-three females whose mean age was 16 and who were 79% African American participated. Most (79%) had experienced a pregnancy.


METHODS
A 6 session, weekly, interactive intervention was delivered. Data were collected at baseline, last session, and at 5 and 7 month follow-ups.


METHODS
Measured outcomes related to abstinence included participants' reasons, behaviors, stages of change, and attitudes.


RESULTS
The most common reason for abstinence was not wanting to have sex. At each postintervention data collection point, most participants (greater than or equal to 74%) reported that they had purposefully avoided sex. Duration of consecutive days of abstinence increased although only significantly at 5 month follow-up. Abstinence behaviors increased with the largest change from first to last session. Stage of change advanced from preparation to action by 7 month follow-up. Attitudes toward abstinence became more favorable.


CONCLUSIONS
Effective sexual risk reduction interventions are critically needed to promote safety. Nurses may assist young women to decrease their sexual risks by teaching them to practice periodic abstinence.
Haglund
Kristin
K
Marquette University, College of Nursing, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881, USA. kristin.haglund@mu.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education* / Q000208:ethnology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D003479:Curriculum; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012252:Natural Family Planning Methods / Q000523:psychology; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D036301:Qualitative Research; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012573:School Nursing; D012736:Sex Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012746:Sexual Abstinence / Q000208:ethnology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires