Health outcomes of youth development programme in England: prospective matched comparison study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of youth development in reducing teenage pregnancy, substance use, and other outcomes.


METHODS
Prospective matched comparison study.


METHODS
54 youth service sites in England.


METHODS
Young people (n=2724) aged 13-15 years at baseline deemed by professionals as at risk of teenage pregnancy, substance misuse, or school exclusion or to be vulnerable.


METHODS
Intensive, multicomponent youth development programme including sex and drugs education (Young People's Development Programme) versus standard youth provision.


METHODS
Various, including pregnancy, weekly cannabis use, and monthly drunkenness at 18 months.


RESULTS
Young women in the intervention group more commonly reported pregnancy than did those in the comparison group (16% v 6%; adjusted odds ratio 3.55, 95% confidence interval 1.32 to 9.50). Young women in the intervention group also more commonly reported early heterosexual experience (58% v 33%; adjusted odds ratio 2.53, 1.09 to 5.92) and expectation of teenage parenthood (34% v 24%; 1.61, 1.07 to 2.43).


CONCLUSIONS
No evidence was found that the intervention was effective in delaying heterosexual experience or reducing pregnancies, drunkenness, or cannabis use. Some results suggested an adverse effect. Although methodological limitations may at least partly explain these findings, any further implementation of such interventions in the UK should be only within randomised trials.
Wiggins
Meg
M
Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London, London WC1H 0NR.
Bonell
Chris
C
Sawtell
Mary
M
Austerberry
Helen
H
Burchett
Helen
H
Allen
Elizabeth
E
Strange
Vicki
V
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control; D011379:Prognosis; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000517:prevention & control; D035862:Vulnerable Populations