Interventions to reduce unintended pregnancies among adolescents: systematic review of randomised controlled trials

ObjectiveTo review the effectiveness of primary prevention strategies aimed at delaying sexual intercourse, improving use of birth control, and reducing incidence of unintended pregnancy in adolescents.ConclusionsPrimary prevention strategies evaluated to date do not delay the initiation of sexual intercourse, improve use of birth control among young men and women, or reduce the number of pregnancies in young women.

What is already known on this topic

Unintended pregnancies among adolescents pose a considerable problem for the young parents, the child, and society

What this study adds

Primary prevention strategies evaluated to date do not delay the initiation of sexual intercourse or improve use of birth control among adolescentsPrimary prevention strategies have not reduced the rate of pregnancies in adolescent womenMeta-analysis of five studies, four of which evaluated abstinence programmes, has shown an increase in pregnancies in partners of male participants