Adolescents need to have information about their changing bodies and how to manage their sexual feelings and behaviors in healthy positive ways to reach their full potential as men and women. Health care has not yet taken full advantage of new technology to support that potential.

Use technology in an innovative way in health care and community sites to empower teens to protect their reproductive health. Create a Community Technology Center in partnership with the Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center.

We are currently involved in Phase III and Phase IV of the project, having completed Phase I and Phase II.

Phase I

efforts tested out the desirability, feasibility, and acceptability of placing computers in health care settings for use by teen patients and parents as well as in a community recreation site for general population use. We learned that computers are one of the preferred ways for teens to get health education.

efforts identified computer-based health education materials suitable for use by teens and assessed their strengths and weaknesses. We also evaluated health education websites aimed at teens. We learned that the number of computer-based reproductive health education materials is limited. But we found some great websites for teens!

efforts are designing multiple computer-based reproductive health interventions aimed at teens. Some take the form of CD’s; some are computer-based slide presentations, and yet others are slide modules linked to web-sites. We learned that such interventions can make a difference in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.

efforts involve research studies and intervention evaluations to further determine the efficacy of empowering youth to learn to care for their reproductive health through use of technology.