Two-year findings of an implementation intention intervention for teenage women show reduced consultations for emergency contraception or pregnancy testing and a trend towards reduced pregnancy rates
- Newcastle University, Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Correspondence to Falko F Sniehotta
Newcastle University, Institute of Health and Society, Baddiley-Clark Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK; falko.sniehotta{at}ncl.ac.uk
Implications for practice and research
-
■ Previous attempts to reduce teenage pregnancy have rarely been theory-based and showed limited success.
-
■ Simple and inexpensive implementation intention interventions in family planning settings appear to have positive effects on consultations for emergency contraception, pregnancy testing and contraceptive supplies.
-
■ More research is needed to strengthen the evidence base for sustainable implementation intention effects and how this affects pregnancy rates.
Context
Cost-effective, scalable and evidence-based strategies to reduce teenage pregnancy in the UK are currently not available.1 Family planning clinics support women to set goals for contraception (eg, taking the pill). While goal-setting defines the desired outcome (eg, taking the pill every day), implementation intentions are if-then plans linking suitable …
