Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the POWER Through Choices Program

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Pregnancy; Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Interventions: Behavioral: POWER Through Choices

• Registration Number: NCT01565304
• Lead Sponsor: Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the POWER Through Choices (PTC) curriculum in increasing contraceptive use and delaying sexual initiation among youth living in group foster care homes.

Detailed Description

Youth in foster care are at especially high risk for teen pregnancy and associated sexual risk behaviors. The POWER Through Choices (PTC) program is a 10-session sexuality curriculum that aims to increase contraceptive use and delay sexual initiation by empowering youth to make healthy, positive choices about their sexual behaviors. This study uses a cluster randomized design to compare the effectiveness of PTC to usual programs and services provided to youth living in group foster care homes. Study participants will be youth living in group foster homes recruited in four locations: Kern County, CA; Cook County, IL; Baltimore County, MD; and Oklahoma (statewide). The study is being conducted as part of the national Evaluation of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Approaches funded by the Office of Adolescent Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2012-01
• Study First Submitted: 2012-03-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-03-26
• Study First Posted: 2012-03-28
• Primary Completion: 2015-07
• Study Completion: 2015-07
• Status Verified: 2015-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-09-22
• Last Update Posted: 2015-09-23

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 1039

Inclusion Criteria

• Resident of group foster care home

Exclusion Criteria

• Pregnant or parenting

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
POWER Through Choices	POWER Through Choices	10-session group-based sexual education curriculum

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Consistent contraceptive use	12 months
Sexual initiation	12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Knowledge of contraceptive use and reproductive health	6 months
Intentions to delay sexual initiation and unprotected sex	6 months
Attitudes toward sexual activity and contraceptive use	6 months
Scores on scale of self-efficacy to avoid sexual risk behaviors	6 months

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

Kern County Superintendent of Schools; 🇺🇸 Bakersfield, California, United States

Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy; 🇺🇸 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States

Planned Parenthood of Maryland; 🇺🇸 Baltimore, Maryland, United States