Abstract
Issue addressed: Young people have a high burden of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) problems, and it is important to reach this group through health promotion initiatives. We conducted a systematic review of reviews to identify successful elements of health promotion programs for improving SRH of young people. Methods: We identified and collated systematic reviews published in 2005-2015 which focused on young people (10-24 years), reported on SRH outcomes (pregnancy, sexually transmissible infections, condoms/contraceptive use, risky sexual behaviour, sexual healthcare access or intimate partner violence), and included primary studies predominantly conducted in high-income countries. This report focuses on features of successful SRH programs identified in the interpretation and discussion of included systematic reviews. Results: We identified 66 systematic reviews, of which 37 reported on program features which were anecdotally or statistically associated with improved program effectiveness and success. Common features of effective interventions were: longer term or repeated implementation; multi-setting and multi-component; parental involvement; culturally/gender/age appropriate; and inclusion of skills-building. So what?: There is marked consistency of features improving SRH program effectiveness for young people despite the wide variation in interventions reviewed. There is a need to better implement this knowledge in future programs, and our findings provide useful guidance for optimising the design of SRH interventions for young people.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 46-57 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Health Promotion Journal of Australia |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Apr 2018 |
Keywords
- Adolescents
- health education
- health promoting schools
- review
- sexually transmitted infections
- systematic
Cite this
}
Features of successful sexual health promotion programs for young people : findings from a review of systematic reviews. / Bowring, Anna L.; Wright, Cassandra J.C.; Douglass, Caitlin; Gold, Judy; Lim, Megan S.C.
In: Health Promotion Journal of Australia, Vol. 29, No. 1, 01.04.2018, p. 46-57.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Features of successful sexual health promotion programs for young people
T2 - findings from a review of systematic reviews
AU - Bowring, Anna L.
AU - Wright, Cassandra J.C.
AU - Douglass, Caitlin
AU - Gold, Judy
AU - Lim, Megan S.C.
PY - 2018/4/1
Y1 - 2018/4/1
N2 - Issue addressed: Young people have a high burden of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) problems, and it is important to reach this group through health promotion initiatives. We conducted a systematic review of reviews to identify successful elements of health promotion programs for improving SRH of young people. Methods: We identified and collated systematic reviews published in 2005-2015 which focused on young people (10-24 years), reported on SRH outcomes (pregnancy, sexually transmissible infections, condoms/contraceptive use, risky sexual behaviour, sexual healthcare access or intimate partner violence), and included primary studies predominantly conducted in high-income countries. This report focuses on features of successful SRH programs identified in the interpretation and discussion of included systematic reviews. Results: We identified 66 systematic reviews, of which 37 reported on program features which were anecdotally or statistically associated with improved program effectiveness and success. Common features of effective interventions were: longer term or repeated implementation; multi-setting and multi-component; parental involvement; culturally/gender/age appropriate; and inclusion of skills-building. So what?: There is marked consistency of features improving SRH program effectiveness for young people despite the wide variation in interventions reviewed. There is a need to better implement this knowledge in future programs, and our findings provide useful guidance for optimising the design of SRH interventions for young people.
AB - Issue addressed: Young people have a high burden of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) problems, and it is important to reach this group through health promotion initiatives. We conducted a systematic review of reviews to identify successful elements of health promotion programs for improving SRH of young people. Methods: We identified and collated systematic reviews published in 2005-2015 which focused on young people (10-24 years), reported on SRH outcomes (pregnancy, sexually transmissible infections, condoms/contraceptive use, risky sexual behaviour, sexual healthcare access or intimate partner violence), and included primary studies predominantly conducted in high-income countries. This report focuses on features of successful SRH programs identified in the interpretation and discussion of included systematic reviews. Results: We identified 66 systematic reviews, of which 37 reported on program features which were anecdotally or statistically associated with improved program effectiveness and success. Common features of effective interventions were: longer term or repeated implementation; multi-setting and multi-component; parental involvement; culturally/gender/age appropriate; and inclusion of skills-building. So what?: There is marked consistency of features improving SRH program effectiveness for young people despite the wide variation in interventions reviewed. There is a need to better implement this knowledge in future programs, and our findings provide useful guidance for optimising the design of SRH interventions for young people.
KW - Adolescents
KW - health education
KW - health promoting schools
KW - review
KW - sexually transmitted infections
KW - systematic
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85045970602&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/hpja.3
DO - 10.1002/hpja.3
M3 - Review Article
VL - 29
SP - 46
EP - 57
JO - Health Promotion Journal of Australia
JF - Health Promotion Journal of Australia
SN - 1036-1073
IS - 1
ER -