%0 Journal Article %J Lancet %D 2012 %T Worldwide application of prevention science in adolescent health. %A Catalano, Richard F %A Fagan, Abigail A %A Gavin, Loretta E %A Greenberg, Mark T %A Irwin, Charles E %A Ross, David A %A Shek, Daniel T L %K Adolescent Medicine %K Child %K Global Health %K Government Programs %K Health Behavior %K Health Status %K Humans %K Public Health %K Young Adult %X

The burden of morbidity and mortality from non-communicable disease has risen worldwide and is accelerating in low-income and middle-income countries, whereas the burden from infectious diseases has declined. Since this transition, the prevention of non-communicable disease as well as communicable disease causes of adolescent mortality has risen in importance. Problem behaviours that increase the short-term or long-term likelihood of morbidity and mortality, including alcohol, tobacco, and other drug misuse, mental health problems, unsafe sex, risky and unsafe driving, and violence are largely preventable. In the past 30 years new discoveries have led to prevention science being established as a discipline designed to mitigate these problem behaviours. Longitudinal studies have provided an understanding of risk and protective factors across the life course for many of these problem behaviours. Risks cluster across development to produce early accumulation of risk in childhood and more pervasive risk in adolescence. This understanding has led to the construction of developmentally appropriate prevention policies and programmes that have shown short-term and long-term reductions in these adolescent problem behaviours. We describe the principles of prevention science, provide examples of efficacious preventive interventions, describe challenges and potential solutions to take efficacious prevention policies and programmes to scale, and conclude with recommendations to reduce the burden of adolescent mortality and morbidity worldwide through preventive intervention.

%B Lancet %V 379 %P 1653-64 %8 2012 Apr 28 %G eng %N 9826 %R 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60238-4 %0 Journal Article %J J Adolesc Health %D 2010 %T A review of positive youth development programs that promote adolescent sexual and reproductive health. %A Gavin, Loretta E %A Catalano, Richard F %A David-Ferdon, Corinne %A Gloppen, Kari M %A Markham, Christine M %K Adolescent %K Adolescent Behavior %K Adolescent Development %K Female %K Humans %K Male %K Reproductive Behavior %K Sexual Behavior %X

PURPOSE: Positive youth development (PYD) may be a promising strategy for promoting adolescent health. A systematic review of the published data was conducted to identify and describe PYD programs that improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health.

METHODS: Eight databases were searched for articles about PYD programs published between 1985 and 2007. Programs included met the following criteria: fostered at least one of 12 PYD goals in multiple socialization domains (i.e., family, school, community) or addressed two or more goals in at least one socialization domain; allocated at least half of the program activities to promoting general PYD outcomes (as compared with a focus on direct sexual health content); included youth younger than 20 years old; and used an experimental or quasi-experimental evaluation design.

RESULTS: Thirty programs met the inclusion criteria, 15 of which had evidence of improving at least one adolescent sexual and reproductive health outcome. Program effects were moderate and well-sustained. Program goals addressed by approximately 50% or more of the effective programs included promoting prosocial bonding, cognitive competence, social competence, emotional competence, belief in the future, and self-determination. Effective programs were significantly more likely than those that did not have an impact to strengthen the school context and to deliver activities in a supportive atmosphere. Effective programs were also more likely to build skills, enhance bonding, strengthen the family, engage youth in real roles and activities, empower youth, communicate expectations, and be stable and relatively long-lasting, although these differences between effective and ineffective programs were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: PYD programs can promote adolescent sexual and reproductive health, and tested, effective PYD programs should be part of a comprehensive approach to promoting adolescent health. However, more research is needed before a specific list of program characteristics can be viewed as a "recipe" for success.

%B J Adolesc Health %V 46 %P S75-91 %8 2010 Mar %G eng %N 3 Suppl %R 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.11.215