The project connect health systems intervention: linking sexually experienced youth to sexual and reproductive health care.

Purpose: To evaluate a health systems intervention to increase adolescents' receipt of high-quality sexual and reproductive health care services.

Methods: Quasi experimental design. Twelve high schools in a large public school district were matched into pairs.

Improving the implementation of a condom availability program in urban high schools.

Purpose: We conducted an intervention to improve the implementation of a high school condom availability program, and evaluated its effect on students' awareness of the program and acquisition of condoms.

Methods: Twelve public high schools in the Los Angeles, CA area participated, half each in the intervention and control conditions. Project staff facilitated intervention schools' self-assessment of compliance with the school district's condom availability policy, creating an action plan by determining which mandatory program elements were lacking and identifying steps to improve compliance.

School-based health center access, reproductive health care, and contraceptive use among sexually experienced high school students.

Purpose: The current analyses compared receipt of reproductive health care, contraceptive use, and screening for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among adolescents who are sexually experienced, with or without access to a school clinic.

Methods: A total of 12 urban California high schools, selected from areas with high teen pregnancy and STD rates, half with school-based health centers (SBHCs), participated in an intervention study designed to improve sexual health among adolescents. Of the participating students, 44% indicated that they had ever had intercourse and were included in these analyses.

Daily participation in sports and students' sexual activity.

Context: Previous studies suggest that student athletes may be less likely than nonathletes to engage in sexual behavior. However, few have explored sexual risk behavior among athletes in early adolescence.

Methods: In 2005, a sample of 10,487 students in 26 Los Angeles public middle and high schools completed a self-administered survey that asked about their demographic characteristics, sports participation, sexual behaviors and expectations, and parental relationships.

The Teen Photovoice Project: a pilot study to promote health through advocacy.

Background: Clinicians, public health practitioners, and policymakers would like to understand how youth perceive health issues and how they can become advocates for health promotion in their communities. Traditional research methods can be used to capture these perceptions, but are limited in their ability to activate (excite and engage) youth to participate in health promotion activities.

Objectives: To pilot the use of an adapted version of photovoice as a starting point to engage youth in identifying influences on their health behaviors in a process that encourages the development of health advocacy projects.