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. 2023 Oct 19;12:198. doi: 10.1186/s13643-023-02361-8

Table 4 Effects of interventions on unintended teen pregnancy outcomes

Review, year Intervention description and comparisons Outcomes Study (number of participants) Results GRADE or risk of bias assessment results
1. Skills building interventions
  Lopez et al. 2016 [39] A skills-based HIV, STI and pregnancy prevention curriculum compared to standard school-based activities by community-based agency presenters. Use of effective protection against pregnancy at last sex (condom, oral contraceptive or both) Low quality
(Reported by Coyle et al. 2001 [17]) 7 months after baseline (n=998) aOR: 1.62 ± 0.22; p=0.03
31 months after baseline (n=549) aOR: 1.76 ± 0.29; p=0.05
Condom use at first sex Low quality
7 months after baseline (n=285) aOR: 0.68 ± 0.48; p=0.42
31 months after baseline (n=733) aOR: 1.44 ± 0.27; p=0.17
Condom use at last sex Low quality
7 months after baseline (n=1018) aOR: 1.91 ± 0.27; p=0.02
31 months after baseline (n=549) aOR: 1.68 ± 0.25; p=0.04
Frequency of sex without a condom in the past 3 months Low quality
7 months after baseline (n=963) aRM: 0.50 ± 0.31; p=0.03
31 months after baseline (n=1371) aRM: 0.63 ± 0.23; p=0.05
Attitude towards condoms Low quality
7 months after baseline (n=3510) aMD: 0.10 ± 0.03; p=< 0.01
31 months after baseline (n=3751) aMD: 0.07 ± 0.02; p=0.01
A school-based intervention combining active learning, information provision and skill development (Reported by Wight et al. 2002 [76]) Unintended pregnancy at 6 months post-intervention (n=2117) 4.0% intervention vs. 3.8% control group Low quality
Oral contraception use during last sex at 6 months post-intervention (n=1269) 30.4% intervention vs. 28.0% control group Low quality
Condom use at first sex (12 months post-intervention) (n= 2629) 9.7% % intervention vs. 9.1% control group Low quality
Condom use at first sex (12 months post-intervention) (n=1269) 44.9% % intervention vs. 44.0% control group Low quality
  Oringanje et al., 2016 [52] In-person sessions on health/STI education, skills building and contraceptive education Unintended pregnancy (n=484)

Philliber et al. 2002 [53]

aRR: 0.59 (0.37, 0.94)

Moderate quality
(n=453)

Howard et al. 1990 [33]

aRR: 0.48 (0.11, 2.09)

Moderate quality
(n=312)

Kirby et al. 1997 [36]

aRR: 0.86 (0.36, 2.05)

Moderate quality
(n=1887)

Wight et al. 2002 [76]

aRR: 0.78 (0.51, 1.20)

Moderate quality
2. Peer-led interventions
  Lopez et al., 2016 [39] A school-based peer-led sex education program vs. usual teacher-led sex education (reported by Stephenson et al. [65]) No unintended pregnancy (18 months after intervention) (n=1621) aOR: 1.40 (0.97 to 2.02) Very low quality
Ever had pregnancy (54 months after intervention) (n=1338) aOR: 0.62 (0.42 to 0.91) Very low quality
Ever had unwanted pregnancy (54 months after intervention) (n=1358) aOR: 0.69 (0.44 to 1.07) Very low quality
Ever had an abortion (54 months after intervention) (n=1359) aOR: 0.56 (0.31 to 1.02) Very low quality
Contraception use during first sex (6 months after intervention) (n=230) aOR: 1.14 (0.81 to 1.62) Very low quality
Contraception use during first sex (18 months after intervention) (n605) aOR: 0.90 (0.73 to 1.11) Very low quality
Knowledge of EC pill timing (18 months after intervention) (n=1,784) aOR: 1.08 (0.78 to 1.50) Very low quality
Knowledge of EC pill timing (54 months after intervention) (n=1378) aOR: 0.93 (0.66 to 1.32) Very low quality
  Lopez et al., 2016 and Oringanje et al., 2016 [39] and [52] A peer-led intervention focusing on HIV and pregnancy prevention activities (reported by Kirby et al. 1997 [22]) Oral contraception use at last sex Moderate quality
5 months post-intervention (n=229) aOR: 0.73 (0.42, 1.27); p=0.27
17 months post-intervention (n=354) aOR: 0.57 (0.36, 0.91); p=0.02
Condom use at last sex Moderate quality
5 months post-intervention (n=233) aOR: 0.78 (0.46, 1.34); p=0.37
17 months post-intervention (n=353) aOR: 0.76 (0.49, 1.18); p=0.22
Pregnancy Moderate quality
5 months post-intervention (n=1402) aOR: 1.53 (0.66, 3.55); p=0.33
17 months post-intervention (n=1482) aOR: 0.82 (0.34, 1.99); p=0.66
Knowledge of HIV and pregnancy prevention Moderate quality
5 months post-intervention (n=1460) MC: 0.59 intervention vs 0.07 control; p<0.001
17 months post-intervention (n=1529) MC: 0.89 intervention vs 0.53 control; p<0.001
  Mason-Jones et al., 2016 [43]

Peer-led education intervention focuses on HIV prevention, communication, and reproductive health.

(Reported by Cowan et al., 2010 [16])

Pregnancy following intervention (n=2586) aRR: 0.95 (0.72, 1.26) Moderate quality
Sexual debut following the intervention (n=2506) aRR: 1.01 (0.88, 1.15) Moderate quality
Condom use at first sex (n=2491) aRR: 0.98 (0.87, 1.11)

Trained peer educators delivered sessions on sexual health topics.

(Reported by Stephenson et al. 2008 [65])

Pregnancy (n=4646) aRR: 0.80 (0.63, 1.03) Moderate quality
Condom use at first sex (n=1736) aRR: 0.98 (0.93, 1.05) Moderate quality
Condom use at last sex (n=1550) aRR: 1.01 (0.93, 1.11) Moderate quality
3. Interactive program interventions
  Lopez et al., 2016 [39] An interactive program addressing choice, body development, contraception, and parenthood (reported by Taylor et al. [69]) Pregnancy at 4 months after intervention (n=129) 6.3% intervention vs. 4.4% control group Very low
Any condom use at 4 months after intervention (n=129) 54.2% intervention vs 36.7% control group; < 0.01 Very low
Condom use consistency (4-point scale) (n=129) Mean score: 2.34 ± 1.29 Very low
Attitude toward teen pregnancy (4-point scale) (n=679) Mean score: 2.26 ± 0.82 Very low
4. Abstinence interventions
  Oringanje et al. 2016 and Mason-Jones et al., 2016 [52] and [43] In-person sessions on health/STI education, skills building and contraceptive education (reported by Cabezon et al. 2005 [12]) Unintended pregnancy (n=460) aOR: 0.20 (0.10, 0.39) Moderate quality
  Mason-Jones et al., 2016 [43] Promoted abstinence until marriage through a teacher-delivered program Pregnancy (n=365) aRR: 0.18 (0.08, 0.39) Low quality
(Reported by Cabezon et al. 2005 [12])
(Reported by Duflo et al. [22]) Pregnancy (n=2754) aRR: 0.95 (0.72, 1.26) Moderate quality
Sexual debut following the intervention (n=6022) aRR: 0.95 (0.82, 1.09) Moderate quality
5. Delaying sexual debut interventions
  Mason-Jones et al., 2016 [43] Advised students to delay sexual intercourse and encouraged condom use (Reported by Henderson et al. [30]) Pregnancy (n=4196) aRR: 1.03 (0.75, 1.40) Moderate quality
Sexual intercourse delay (n=2680) aRR: 0.96 (0.85, 1.10) Moderate quality
Condom use at first sex (n=2629) aRR: 0.99 (0.97, 1.02) Moderate quality
Condom use at last sex (n=1269) aRR: 0.98 (0.88, 1.11) Moderate quality

Provided knowledge and skills for delaying sexual debut, reducing risk-taking and improving health service use

(Reported by Bonell et al., 2013 [11]

Unintended pregnancy (n=2940) aRR: 1.06 (0.83, 1.37) Moderate quality
Sexual debut delay (n=2940) aRR: 1.00 (0.93, 1.08) Moderate quality
Condom use at last sex (n=2134) aRR: 1.23 (0.94, 1.61) Moderate quality
6. Counselling interventions
  Oringanje et al., 2016 [52] In-person sessions on health/STI education, skills building and contraceptive education (Reported by Herceg-Brown et al. 1986 [31]) Unintended pregnancy (n=374) aRR: 0.96 (0.56, 1.65) Moderate quality
7. Exposure to parental responsibilities interventions
  Oringanje et al., 2016 [52]

In-person sessions on health/STI education, skills building and contraceptive education

(Reported by Bonell et al., 2013 [11])

Unintended pregnancy (n=408)

aRR: 0.77 (0.33, 1.79)

aRR: 0.50 (0.28, 0.88)

aRR: 1.16 (0.88, 1.54)

Moderate quality
8. Information only interventions
  Oringanje et al., 2016 [52] Educational sessions aimed at providing information on sexual risk reduction (reported by Morison-Beedy et al.) Unintended pregnancy (n=639) Moderate quality
Consistent condom use (n=484) Consistent condom use