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Parent, Teacher, and School Stakeholder Perspectives on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Programming for Latino Youth

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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.

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Acknowledgments

Support for this study was provided by the University of Kansas Strategic Initiative Program, Level II. The authors are grateful to the school and the study participants for making this project possible and to Ashley Peaches and Aislinn Conrad-Hiebner for their research assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, 1545 Lilac Lane, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA

    Michelle Johnson-Motoyama, Mindi Moses, Tiffany Koloroutis Kann, E. Susana Mariscal, Michelle Levy & Carolina Navarro

  2. University of Kansas Clinical Child Psychology Program, 1000 Sunnyside Ave, Lawrence, KS, 66049, USA

    Paula J. Fite

Authors
  1. Michelle Johnson-Motoyama
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  2. Mindi Moses
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  3. Tiffany Koloroutis Kann
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  4. E. Susana Mariscal
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  5. Michelle Levy
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  6. Carolina Navarro
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  7. Paula J. Fite
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Correspondence to Michelle Johnson-Motoyama.

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No conflicts of interested were reported in the conduct of this research.

Human Subjects Approval Statement

The study was approved by the University of Kansas Human Subjects Committee Lawrence.

Research Ethics

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Johnson-Motoyama, M., Moses, M., Kann, T.K. et al. Parent, Teacher, and School Stakeholder Perspectives on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Programming for Latino Youth. J Primary Prevent 37, 513–525 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-016-0447-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-016-0447-2

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