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Review
. 2018 Jun;62(6):651-660.
doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.02.007.

Technology-Based Interventions to Reduce Sexually Transmitted Infections and Unintended Pregnancy Among Youth

Laura Widman  1 , Jacqueline Nesi  2 , Kristyn Kamke  3 , Sophia Choukas-Bradley  4 , J L Stewart  3
Affiliations
Review

Technology-Based Interventions to Reduce Sexually Transmitted Infections and Unintended Pregnancy Among Youth

Laura Widman et al. J Adolesc Health. 2018 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: Technology-based interventions to promote sexual health have proliferated in recent years, yet their efficacy among youth has not been meta-analyzed. This study synthesizes the literature on technology-based sexual health interventions among youth.

Methods: Studies were included if they (1) sampled youth ages 13-24; (2) utilized technology-based platforms; (3) measured condom use or abstinence as outcomes; (4) evaluated program effects with experimental or quasi-experimental designs; and (5) were published in English.

Results: Sixteen studies with 11,525 youth were synthesized. There was a significant weighted mean effect of technology-based interventions on condom use (d = .23, 95% confidence interval [CI] [.12, .34], p < .001) and abstinence (d = .21, 95% CI [.02, .40], p = .027). Effects did not differ by age, gender, country, intervention dose, interactivity, or program tailoring. However, effects were stronger when assessed with short-term (1-5 months) than with longer term (greater than 6 months) follow-ups. Compared with control programs, technology-based interventions were also more effective in increasing sexual health knowledge (d = .40, p < .001) and safer sex norms (d = .15, p = .022) and attitudes (d = .12, p= .016).

Conclusions: After 15 years of research on youth-focused technology-based interventions, this meta-analysis demonstrates their promise to improve safer sex behavior and cognitions. Future work should adapt interventions to extend their protective effects over time.

Keywords: Adolescent sexual health; Digital health; HIV prevention; Sex education; Sexually transmitted diseases; Technology-based interventions; eHealth; mHealth.

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Forest Plots for Primary Outcomes
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References

    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transmitted diseases. Adolescents and young adults. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/std/life-stages-populations/adolescents-youngadults.htm. Updated September 22, 2017. Accessed October 3, 2017.
    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV among youth. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/age/youth/index.html. Updated September 21, 2017, Accessed October 3, 2017.
    1. UNAIDS. Global report: UNAIDS report on global AIDS epidemic. :2013. Available at: http://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/UNAIDS_Global_Repo.... Published November 2013. Accessed October 3, 2017.
    1. Guttmacher Institute. ADDING IT UP: Investing in contraception and maternal and newborn health, 2017. Available at: https://www.guttmacher.org/sites/default/files/factsheet/adding-it-up-co.... Published June 2017. Accessed October 3, 2017.
    1. World Health Organization. Adolescent pregnacy. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs364/en/. Updated September 2014. Accessed October 3, 2017.

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