title: Parent, Teacher, and School Stakeholder Perspectives on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Programming for Latino Youth.
abstract: Teen pregnancy remains a public health concern particularly among Latinos, whose pregnancy rate of 83.5 per 1000 girls constitutes one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy among all ethnic and racial groups in the United States. To enhance the effectiveness of interventions for diverse Latino populations in the US, it is crucial to assess the community's understanding of the etiology of the problem of adolescent pregnancy and to implement programs that reflect the local community's beliefs and preferences. We present findings from six focus groups held with parents (n = 18), teachers (n = 23) and school stakeholders (n = 8) regarding teen pregnancy prevention among Latino youth at a high school located in a large, Midwestern city. Two investigators analyzed data iteratively using a template organizing approach. A consensus emerged across the groups regarding content that emphasized respect for oneself and one's family, a focus on personal and shared responsibility in reproductive health behavior, information about the "realities" or consequences associated with engaging in sexual activity, and information about contraceptives. The strong request from participants to include a parental education component reflects the community's belief that parents play a crucial, protective role in the socialization and development of adolescent sexual behavior, a view that is supported by empirical research. Findings highlight the importance of involving local school communities in identifying adolescent pregnancy prevention strategies that are responsive to the community's cultural values, beliefs, and preferences, as well as the school's capacity and teacher preferences.
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, 1545 Lilac Lane, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA. michellejm@ku.edu.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnson-Motoyama
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, 1545 Lilac Lane, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA.
authors.forename: Mindi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moses
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, 1545 Lilac Lane, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA.
authors.forename: Tiffany Koloroutis
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kann
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, 1545 Lilac Lane, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA.
authors.forename: E Susana
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Mariscal
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, 1545 Lilac Lane, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, 1545 Lilac Lane, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas Clinical Child Psychology Program, 1000 Sunnyside Ave, Lawrence, KS, 66049, USA.
authors.forename: Paula J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Fite
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D010290:Parents; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000070777:School Teachers; D012736:Sex Education; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013334:Students
keywords: High school; Latino; School-based programming; Sexuality education