title: Health outcomes of youth development programme in England: prospective matched comparison study.
abstract: 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.
authors: Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London, London WC1H 0NR.
authors: Meg
authors: M
authors: Wiggins
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: Bonell
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Sawtell
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Austerberry
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Burchett
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Allen
authors: Vicki
authors: V
authors: Strange
mesh_terms: 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