Elements contributing to the rate of adoption of the Healthy Youth Act in North Carolina schools
Year: 2012
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Teenage pregnancy is a major public health concern facing the United States. To address this, North Carolina passed the Healthy Youth Act, mandating all school districts adopt at minimum abstinence plus reproductive health and safety curriculum. The goal of the study was to apply the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) framework to explain the rate of adoption of the Healthy Youth Act by the school districts. Using a mixed methods approach, a quantitative survey and follow-up interviews were conducted with curriculum coordinators statewide to investigate how the perceived attributes of an innovation contribute to adoption. The survey results indicated that relative advantage and compatibility are significantly associated with policy adoption. This was further supported by the interviews, with participants discussing how the new policy allowed them to better educate and meet the needs of the student population. Finally, perceptions of the community influenced the process undertaken to adopt the policy, leading to greater transparency than necessary. Discussion and conclusion include outreach to policy makers and those in charge of administration and continued/expanded inclusion of the community in policy efforts.
Author: Virginia L. Brown
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1832382845