Evaluating the Many Ways of Being Program
- Conditions
- Sexual BehaviorUnprotected Sex
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Many Ways of Being, an innovative sexual health promotion program focused on addressing rigid gender norms and promoting healthy relationshipsBehavioral: A career readiness program
- Registration Number
- NCT05801601
- Lead Sponsor
- Child Trends
- Brief Summary
The goal of this randomized control trial is to clinical trial is to evaluate Many Ways of Being, an innovative sexual health promotion program focused on addressing rigid gender norms and promoting healthy relationships.
The overall goal of the MWB program is to reduce incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and unplanned pregnancy and promote healthy, consensual, and violence-free relationships among youth. The primary research question we aim to answer through this study is: Among youth ages 15-19, does the Many Ways of Being program reduce unprotected sex (through consistent and correct use of condoms and contraceptives) compared to the a career readiness program, which does not include sexual health components?
As part of the study, participants will be asked to:
* Attend approximately 14 hours and 40 minutes of programming completed over 4-8 weeks
* Complete baseline, post-intervention, and 9-month follow-up surveys
* For select participants who received the MWB program, participate in an optional focus group discussion
The local evaluation will focus on the impact of the entire MWB intervention, as compared to a similar-length control program focused on career readiness.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 700
- Youth age 15-19 in the greater Metropolitan DC area
- Youth who are actively planning a pregnancy, have participated in the other sexual health programming through the LAYC previously, or are receiving other sexual health education during the implementation period. Youth who do not speak English and/or Spanish will also not be eligible to participate.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Many Ways of Being Many Ways of Being, an innovative sexual health promotion program focused on addressing rigid gender norms and promoting healthy relationships In the experimental arm, Equimundo's Many Ways of Being program will be implemented. Youth will receive eight two-hour sessions or 16 one-hour sessions over four to eight weeks for a total of 14 hours and 40 minutes of programming. A career readiness program A career readiness program In the comparison arm, a curriculum focused on career readiness will be implemented. Youth will receive eight two-hour sessions or 16 one-hour sessions over four to eight weeks for a total of 14 hours and 40 minutes of programming.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Condomless sex (measure 1) 9 months following program completion Vaginal or anal sex without a condom in the past 3 months (yes/no). Yes if had vaginal or anal sex in the past 3 months and did not use a condom "all the time". No if did not have sex or used a condom "all the time".
Unprotected vaginal sex (measure 2) 9 months following program completion Vaginal sex without any contraception (including condom) in the past 3 months (yes/no) Yes if had sex in the past 3 months and did not use a contraceptive "all the time". No if did not have sex or used a contraceptive "all the time".
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Knowledge related to healthy relationships Immediately post-program and 9 months following program completion Able to identify healthy and unhealthy relationship scenarios (% correct out of 7 items)
Intentions to practice sexual health promoting behaviors (measure 1) Immediately post-program and 9 months following program completion Intends to use contraception ("Yes, definitely") if chooses to have sex in the future
Positive attitudes around sexual health (measure 1) Immediately post-program and 9 months following program completion Self-love subscale from Sexual and Reproductive Empowerment Scale (4-item Likert scale). Citation: Upadhyay UD et al. Development and Validation of the Sexual and Reproductive Empowerment Scale for Adolescents and Young Adults. J Adolesc Health. 2021 Jan;68(1):86-94.
Sexual agency 9 months following program completion The respondent reported that they communicated what they "liked, disliked, or wanted to try" "all" or "most" of the time and that they asked what their partner "liked, disliked, or wanted to try" "all" or "most" of the time when participating in any sexual activity (including sexual touching) in the past 3 months OR respondent was not sexually active in the past 3 months. (yes/no)
Positive attitudes around sexual health (measure 2) Immediately post-program and 9 months following program completion Sexual pleasure subscale from Sexual Reproductive Empowerment Scale (3-item Likert scale). Citation: Upadhyay UD et al. Development and Validation of the Sexual and Reproductive Empowerment Scale for Adolescents and Young Adults. J Adolesc Health. 2021 Jan;68(1):86-94.
Knowledge related to sexual and reproductive health (measure 1) Immediately post-program and 9 months following program completion Knowledge of contraceptive methods (% correct out of 4 items)
Knowledge related to sexual and reproductive health (measure 2) Immediately post-program and 9 months following program completion Knowledge of STIs (% correct out of 5 items)
Knowledge related to sexual and reproductive health (measure 3) Immediately post-program and 9 months following program completion Able to identify sexual consent (% correct out of 4 items)
Intentions to practice sexual health promoting behaviors (measure 2) Immediately post-program and 9 months following program completion Intends to use condoms ("Yes, definitely") if chooses to have sex in the future
Intentions to practice sexual health promoting behaviors (measure 3) Immediately post-program and 9 months following program completion Intends to visit a health care provider for SRH services in the next 12 months (yes/no "Yes, definitely" vs other responses)
Self-efficacy to practice sexual health promoting behaviors (measure 1) Immediately post-program and 9 months following program completion Know where to go to get birth control (yes/no "Yes, definitely" vs other responses)
Self-efficacy to practice sexual health promoting behaviors (measure 4) Immediately post-program and 9 months following program completion Self-reported ability to communicate with partners about consent, sex, and contraception (5-item Likert scale). Three items draw from Upadhyay UD et al. Development and Validation of the Sexual and Reproductive Empowerment Scale for Adolescents and Young Adults. J Adolesc Health. 2021 Jan;68(1):86-94.
Positive attitudes around gender Immediately post-program and 9 months following program completion Gender-equitable attitudes scale (7-item Likert scale)
Self-efficacy to practice sexual health promoting behaviors (measure 2) Immediately post-program and 9 months following program completion Know where to go to get STI testing/ treatment (yes/no "Yes, definitely" versus other responses)
Self-efficacy to practice sexual health promoting behaviors (measure 3) Immediately post-program and 9 months following program completion Level of comfort going to a provider for services or approaching a trusted adult for information about SRH (4-item Likert scale).
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
LAYC's Teen Center
🇺🇸Washington, District of Columbia, United States