title: Being targeted: Young women's experience of being identified for a teenage pregnancy prevention programme.
abstract: Research on the unintended consequences of targeting 'high-risk' young people for health interventions is limited. Using qualitative data from an evaluation of the Teens & Toddlers Pregnancy Prevention programme, we explored how young women experienced being identified as at risk for teenage pregnancy to understand the processes via which unintended consequences may occur. Schools' lack of transparency regarding the targeting strategy and criteria led to feelings of confusion and mistrust among some young women. Black and minority ethnic young women perceived that the assessment of their risk was based on stereotyping. Others felt their outgoing character was misinterpreted as signifying risk. To manage these imposed labels, stigma and reputational risks, young women responded to being targeted by adopting strategies, such as distancing, silence and refusal. To limit harmful consequences, programmes could involve prospective participants in determining their need for intervention or introduce programmes for young people at all levels of risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK. Electronic address: annik.sorhaindo@lshtm.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Annik
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sorhaindo
authors.affiliation: Department of Childhood, Families and Health, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AL, UK. Electronic address: C.Bonell@ioe.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonell
authors.affiliation: School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3XQ, UK. Electronic address: FletcherA@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.affiliation: School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, Priory Road, Bristol BS8 1TZ, UK. Electronic address: Tricia.Jessiman@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jessiman
authors.affiliation: The Open University, Room 014, Horlock Building, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK. Electronic address: Peter.Keogh@open.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Keogh
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK. Electronic address: Kirstin.mitchell@lshtm.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kirstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013240:Stereotyping
keywords: High-risk; Prevention; Risk management; School; Targeting; Teenage pregnancy