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Empowering Adolescents to Lead Change Using Health Data

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Healthy
Interventions
Behavioral: Behavioral interventions targeting multiple risk behaviors as well as protective factors
Other: School-level interventions targeting the school environment and system
Registration Number
NCT04963426
Lead Sponsor
World Health Organization
Brief Summary

This study is a cluster randomized trial carried out in schools of secondary cities of four low- and middle income countries. Baseline surveys in 30 randomly selected schools will assess the health behaviours of 13-17 year old students as well as school policies and practices. The intervention arm (15 schools) will use the baseline information to develop a package of actions in collaboration with students, teachers, and local authorities that will subsequently be implemented an monitored over two years. Follow-up surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented actions will be conducted after two years in all 30 previously selected schools.

Detailed Description

The objective of this study is to generate health information through school surveys and use this information directly and locally, involving adolescents, to change policies and plan programmes to improve health.

The study is carried out in secondary cities of four low- and middle income countries, including Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana; Jaipur, India; Spanish Town, Jamaica; and Fez, Morocco.

In each of the four cities, 30 schools are randomly selected. Baseline surveys will be conducted to assess (1) 13-17 year old student's health behaviours using the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS); and (2) health policies and practices in the selected schools using the Global School Health Policies and Practices Study (G-SHPPS). Additionally, the physical activity module of the GSHS questionnaire will be validated against objective measurement devices in one randomly selected class of 15 randomly selected schools.

Schools will be randomly allocated to the intervention (15 schools) or control arm (15 schools) of the study. The intervention group will participate in interactive workshops using the Global Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents (Global AA-HA!) approach and the framework of Making every school a health-promoting school to:

1. Identify adolescent health needs through exploring the collected data;

2. Assess policies and practices already in place;

3. Identify gaps and needs for action to improve health. Students, teachers and local authorities will propose and prioritize policy and programme solutions from menus of effective interventions for school-, community- or city-level implementation, supported by the Ministries of Health and Education and WHO.

Repeat GSHS and G-SHPPS surveys will be conducted two years later in all schools to assess effectiveness of the interventions.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
12612
Inclusion Criteria
  • School going
  • Aged 13-17 years
Exclusion Criteria
  • Not going to school
  • Outside the age range 13-17 years

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intervention armSchool-level interventions targeting the school environment and systemThe intervention consists of interactive workshops that will be facilitated by WHO and trained local personnel and involve students, teachers and local authorities. In the workshops, the Global Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents (Global AA-HA!) approach will be used to: * identify adolescent health needs through exploring the collected baseline data; * assess policies and practices already in place; * identify gaps and needs for action to improve health. A menu of actions will be identified, prioritized, implemented and monitored.
Intervention armBehavioral interventions targeting multiple risk behaviors as well as protective factorsThe intervention consists of interactive workshops that will be facilitated by WHO and trained local personnel and involve students, teachers and local authorities. In the workshops, the Global Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents (Global AA-HA!) approach will be used to: * identify adolescent health needs through exploring the collected baseline data; * assess policies and practices already in place; * identify gaps and needs for action to improve health. A menu of actions will be identified, prioritized, implemented and monitored.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Alcohol useTwo years

Self-reported alcohol use measured with the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS)

Physical activityTwo years

Self-reported physical activity measured with the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS)

Protective factorsTwo years

Self-reported protective factors measured with the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS)

Dietary behaviorsTwo years

Self-reported dietary behaviors measured with the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS)

Drug useTwo years

Self-reported drug use measured with the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS)

HygieneTwo years

Self-reported hygiene measured with the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS)

Mental healthTwo years

Self-reported mental health measured with the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS)

Sexual behaviorsTwo years

Self-reported sexual behaviors measured with the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS)

Tobacco useTwo years

Self-reported tobacco use measured with the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS)

Violence and unintentional injuryTwo years

Self-reported violence and unintentional injury measured with the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

WHO

🇨🇭

Geneva, Switzerland

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