Although the author stated in the text that 13 studies were included, details of 14 studies were presented in the table: eight retrospective cohort studies (n=368,300 teenagers or kindergarten students); one cross-sectional study (n=1,227); and five qualitative studies (n≥123). Two of the retrospective studies had control groups.
The author stated that all studies had methodological limitations, including use of alternative school-programmes, small sample size and selection bias.
School-based clinics were associated with a reduction in absenteeism and drop-out rates among pregnant and parenting teens (five studies), a possible reduction in developmental delay in children (two studies), encouragement for ongoing participation in school and an improvement in the health of the teenager and her child (two studies), a reduced incidence of low-birth weight babies (three studies), and an increase in the decision to use contraceptives and a wish not have a repeat pregnancy (two studies).