Impact evaluation of the "Not Me, Not Now'' abstinence-oriented, adolescent pregnancy prevention communications program, Monroe County, New York

Not Me, Not "Now" is an abstinence oriented, adolescent pregnancy preventio n integrated communications program developed by Monroe County, NY. The eva luation utilized a cross-sectional time series approach in the analysis of items from several waves of youth surveys administered to two different age groups : (1) a survey of 7th and 8th graders on awareness, attitudes and i ntended behavior, and (2) the Youth Risk Behavior Survey administered to 9t h through 12th graders. The trends found in the surveys demonstrated high l evels of awareness of the program, changing attitudes and intended behavior s consistent with the program's messages. Analysis of pregnancy rates for 1 5-17 year-olds in the county were compared to reductions found in similar g eographic areas. Pregnancy rates in Monroe County declined faster than in c omparison areas. The authors conclude that there is a strong likelihood tha t the program had independent effect on the outcome of pregnancies in the p opulation exposed to the program.