Study Details

The program was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial involving low-income adolescent mothers in Los Angeles County. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving AIM 4 Teen Moms (AIM4TM) or a control group that was not offered the program but that had access to other services for teen mothers in their communities. Outcomes were measured 12 and 24 months after participants enrolled in the study.

The study found that 12 months after enrollment, adolescent mothers in the intervention group were less likely to report having had sex without any effective contraceptive method in the past three months (odds ratio = 0.72, confidence interval = 0.61 to 0.85). This effect was not sustained 24 months after enrollment: adolescent mothers in the intervention group were no less likely than their counterparts in the control group to report having had sex without any effective contraceptive method in the past three months (odds ratio = 1.19).

Twelve and 24 months after enrollment, the study found no statistically significant program impacts on having had sexual intercourse in the past three months, the number of sexual partners in the past 12 months, or on having sex without using a condom or specific forms or birth control methods such as birth control pills, an implant, any LARC method, an IUD, the shot, the patch, or the ring, in the past three months. At the follow-up that occurred 24 months after enrollment, the study also found no evidence of statistically significant program impacts on repeat pregnancy, the number of pregnancies since birth of first child, and repeat pregnancy resulting in a new birth.

Program impacts were also examined on measures of exposure to information about effective contraception, school or work engagement, support for safe sex, and intentions to avoid unprotected sexual activity. Findings for these outcomes were not considered for the review because they fell outside the scope of the review.