UTHealth to lead data collection effort aimed at reducing teen pregnancy

An evaluation of needs and assets required to help to prevent pregnancy among youth in the foster care program in the Houston area will begin with data collection by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).

The data collection effort, expected to take six months, is the second part of a yearlong planning phase to address the issue of pregnancy prevention among children in foster care. Melissa Peskin, PhD, associate professor with UTHealth School of Public Health, will lead the effort. Christine Markham, PhD, a professor of health promotion and behavioral sciences, and Paula Cuccaro, PhD, an assistant professor of health promotion at UTHealth School of Public Health, are co-investigators on the project.

得克萨斯州东南部的7,400多名青年正在寄养，超过1,800名有资格为成人生活（PAL）计划做准备。研究团队收集的数据将用于制定和实施将为年轻人创建的策beplay苹果手机能用吗略。

佩斯金说：“我们知道，保护阶层的青年有意外怀孕和其他不良后果的高风险。”“在本计划结束时，我们的目标是建立一个全面的逻辑模型，然后可以为这些年轻人提供最佳实践干预措施。”

To collect the data, Peskin and her team will use intervention mapping, which sources theory, empirical evidence, and extensive input from community partners.

佩斯金说，该团队将审查目前正在使用的有关预防妊娠的计划和文献，并与以前从事护理的青年以及与青年合作的成年人进行深入的访谈。

UTHealth公共卫生学院的几个之一partners in the Collaborative for Youth in Care, which works to educate, advocate and serve youth in Texas to ensure their wellbeing. The Collaborative for Youth in Care is funded by the Houston Endowment through a sub-contract with The Texas Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.