The effectiveness of contraceptive programs for teenagers.

This paper critically reviews the effectiveness of adolescent family planning programs in the United States. Various models for evaluating family planning programs and the findings from empirical studies of adolescent programs are reviewed. During the past decade there have been major increases in the availability and utilization of contraceptive services by adolescents. Most of those who are sexually active are now aware that these services exist. Program continuation rates among adolescents are not high, in part, because of the sporadic nature of adolescent sexual activity. Data on contraceptive continuation and pregnancy rates in these programs are limited, since few studies follow up clinic noncontinuers. Among clinic continuers pregnancy rates are relatively low, suggesting that at least some programs are effective in reducing pregnancy and/or fertility rates (number of children born) in their target populations. Ecological analyses seem to indicate that programs have had an impact on adolescent marital fertility.