Eleven computerised databases were searched, eight journals hand searched, and reference lists reviewed of all relevant papers. Included were randomised and observational studies on adolescents 18 years or less and evaluating primary prevention programmes with outcomes of start of sexual intercourse, birth control use or responsible sexual behaviour. Randomised studies were not significantly different for any outcome. For responsible sexual behaviour and birth control use odds ratios greater than 1 indicate a desirable effect of intervention. Shaded results are statistically better than control.
N indicates number of trials included in analysis.
Randomised studies were not significantly different for any outcome. There are at least three important lessons in this paper. For those interested in reducing teenage pregnancy the message is bleak. The highest quality studies show that interventions do not work. Perhaps a really clever person might dredge some comfort from individual studies, but it is hard to see where that comfort will come from.