A Systematic Review of Programs to Promote Aspects of Teen Parents’ Self-sufficiency: Supporting Educational Outcomes and Healthy Birth Spacing

Abstract

Introduction Expectant and parenting teens experience many challenges to achieving self-sufficiency and promoting their children's healthy development. Teen parents need support to help them address these challenges, and many different types of programs aim to support them. In this systematic review, we examine the research about programs that aim to support aspects of teen parents' self-sufficiency by promoting their educational outcomes and healthy birth spacing. Methods We conducted a comprehensive literature search of published and unpublished literature to identify studies of programs to support teen parents that met this review's eligibility criteria. The quality and execution of the eligible study research designs were assessed to determine whether studies' findings were at risk of bias. We then extracted information about study characteristics, outcomes, and program characteristics for studies considered to provide rigorous evidence. Results We identified 58 eligible studies. Twenty-three studies were considered to provide rigorous evidence about either education, contraceptive use, or repeat pregnancy or birth. Seventeen of these studies showed at least one favorable effect on an outcome in one of these domains, whereas the other six did not show any significant or substantial effects in these domains. These 17 studies represent 14 effective programs. Discussion Effective programs to support expectant and parenting teens have diverse characteristics, indicating there is no single approach for promoting teens' education and healthy birth spacing. More rigorous studies of programs to support teen parents are needed to understand more about how to support teen fathers and the program characteristics associated with effectiveness.

Supporting Expectant and Parenting Teens: New Evidence to Inform Future Programming and Research

“…These results are supported by findings from a well-conducted randomized controlled trial of Healthy Families Healthy Futures enhanced with Steps to Success, a home visiting program for teen parents, which found suggestive evidence of increases in use of long-acting reversible contraceptives among the treatment group (Zief et al 2020b , this issue). Finally, consistent with other research (Corcoran and Pillai 2007 ), the systematic review found programs reduced repeat pregnancies or births, particularly rapid repeat pregnancies or births that occurred within 24 months of prior births (Harding et al 2020 , this issue). Overall, the supplement provides rigorous research about programs that promote teen parents’ education, increase contraceptive use, or reduce repeat pregnancies.…”

“…The evidence in this supplement demonstrates that programs can improve aspects of teen parents’ self-sufficiency. Specifically, a systematic review found 14 programs with rigorous evidence of improving teen parents’ education, increasing contraceptive use, or reducing repeat pregnancies (Harding et al 2020 , this issue). Consistent with prior work (Steinka-Fry et al 2013 ), this systematic review found that programs can improve teens’ educational outcomes, particularly outcomes related to educational progress such as school enrollment (Harding et al 2020 , this issue).…”

“…Specifically, a systematic review found 14 programs with rigorous evidence of improving teen parents’ education, increasing contraceptive use, or reducing repeat pregnancies (Harding et al 2020 , this issue). Consistent with prior work (Steinka-Fry et al 2013 ), this systematic review found that programs can improve teens’ educational outcomes, particularly outcomes related to educational progress such as school enrollment (Harding et al 2020 , this issue). Supporting this conclusion are findings from a rigorous quasi-experimental study of New Heights, a school-based program to support teen parents, which demonstrated improvements in teen parents’ educational outcomes (Asheer et al 2017b ; Zief et al 2020a , this issue).…”

“…Another important outcome for teen parents is contraceptive use, which supports healthy birth spacing (Bennett et al 2006 ; Raneri and Wiemann 2007 ; Stevens-Simon et al 2001 ; Coard et al 2000 ). As far as we are aware, the systematic review in this supplement was the first to examine whether programs can impact teen parents’ contraceptive use (Harding et al 2020 , this issue). The systematic review found that some programs increased contraceptive use, with some effects sustained more than 9 months after the program ended.…”

Roadmap for Effective School-Based Practices to Support Expectant and Parenting Youth: Lessons from the New Heights Program in Washington, DC

“…Programs designed to address the needs of young expectant or parenting mothers often use multiple components and approaches, involving numerous partners (Person et al 2018 ). The body of evidence on the effectiveness of some of these programs is growing, but there is still a lack of knowledge about the different components and attributes that coalesce to drive program success (Harding et al 2020 ).…”