Behavioural interventions for young women which aim to promote sexual behaviours protective of STI transmission can be effective, primarily at encouraging condom use. Future evaluations should include a greater focus on HPV and its link to cervical cancer, with long-term follow-up to assess impact on behaviour change, rates of HPV infection and progression to cervical cancer. Studies should use an RCT design where possible with integral process evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis where appropriate. Given the predominance of USA studies in this systematic review evaluations conducted in other countries would be particularly useful.
Project CHARM: an HIV prevention program for adolescent mothers.
Effects were examined of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention program for adolescent mothers offered in pregnant minor and parenting programs in Los Angeles County. The sample included young women (N = 497) of predominantly poor, Latina backgrounds who had complete data from baseline to the one-year follow-up. The treatment group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in AIDS knowledge and intentions to use condoms, and fewer sex partners at the six-month follow-up as compared to the control group. Findings related to the effects of the intervention on theoretical variables provide some support for selected concepts from Social Cognitive Theory and the Theory of Reasoned Action.