An Intervention to Reduce Risk Factors for Adolescent Pregnancy

Not Applicable

Completed

Conditions: Behavioral Changes

Interventions: Behavioral: Girls Invest Mobile App Intervention
Other: Savings Account Subsidies

Registration Number: NCT04222959

Lead Sponsor: San Diego State University

Brief Summary: Investigators will assess the preliminary effects of Girls Invest, an innovative savings intervention that aims to reduce economic, social, and health behavior risks associated with disproportionately high rates of pregnancy among US Latina adolescents. Girls Invest involves a multidisciplinary conceptual model adapting the most effective prevention strategies from the disciplines of public health and economics. Participants receive a savings account (via our collaborating bank) with $100 deposited in increments based on completion of each module of a gender and life skills training via a mobile "app."

Detailed Description: Investigators will assess the preliminary effects of Girls Invest, an innovative savings intervention that aims to reduce economic, social, and health behavior risks associated with disproportionately high rates of pregnancy among US Latina adolescents. Recommended models of adolescent pregnancy prevention in the US focus on modifying social norms (e.g., norms supporting early childbearing), as well as sexual health knowledge and skill-building; however, such efforts are not likely effective in reducing economic risk factors (e.g., financial reliance on male partners, low expectations for future career and educational achievements). Girls Invest involves a multidisciplinary conceptual model adapting the most effective prevention strategies from the disciplines of public health and economics to address social and economic risks associated with adolescent pregnancy. Participants receive a savings account (via our collaborating bank) with $100 deposited in increments based on completion of each module of a gender and life skills training via a mobile "app." Girls Invest will be evaluated among a community sample of Latina adolescents residing in economically disenfranchised neighborhoods in San Diego County with high rates of adolescent pregnancy. Adolescent pregnancy is a concern in San Diego and other US-Mexico border regions, where rates are higher compared to the rest of the US or elsewhere in Mexico. Compared to other racial/ethnic groups, Latina adolescents of Mexican origin have the highest pregnancy rates. In California, where Latinos constitute 39% of the population, 30% of all Latinas give birth prior to their 20th birthday. Latina adolescents ages 15-22 will be recruited among 18 community-based organizations and schools within low-income neighborhoods of San Diego County region. Half of the sites will be randomized to receive Girls Invest and the remaining assigned to a wait-list control condition (n= 9 sites per arm; total = 200 girls). To assess feasibility and fidelity, investigators will track (via data logs and app-based data) all aspects of recruitment, retention, and intervention completion. In-depth interviews with Girls Invest participants and focus groups with key stakeholders will inform acceptability and scalability of Girls Invest. Participants will complete a questionnaire at baseline and 6 months follow-up to assess evidence of improvements in intermediate outcomes. Regression analyses will assess treatment effects on intermediate outcomes. Investigators hypothesize that at follow-up, compared to control participants, Girls Invest participants will have reduced economic vulnerability (e.g., reduced financial reliance on male partners, improved expectations for future career and educational achievements), decreased social risks for pregnancy (e.g., intentions to delay pregnancy), and improved prioritization, knowledge of, and attitudes supportive of contraceptive use. Study findings will inform a full-scale efficacy trial of Girls Invest.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: Female

Target Recruitment: 240

Inclusion Criteria

age 15-22 years old
literate in English
have a smart phone with internet access
have photo identification
willing to open a savings account

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Girls Invest Intervention	Girls Invest Mobile App Intervention	Girls Invest intervention participants will have been randomized to receive the intervention immediately upon completion of the baseline survey. Intervention participants will also complete the 6 month follow-up survey. (n=50 dyads; 100 total participants)
Girls Invest Intervention	Savings Account Subsidies	Girls Invest intervention participants will have been randomized to receive the intervention immediately upon completion of the baseline survey. Intervention participants will also complete the 6 month follow-up survey. (n=50 dyads; 100 total participants)

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Sexual/Reproductive Health Behaviors	6 month follow-up	Contraceptive use: Condom use and other contraception use and consistency of use.
Financial Reliance on a Male Partner	Past 6 months	Number of participants reporting relying financially on a male partner (reported to receive spending money from a male partner or reported that a male partner buys basic necessities, such as: food, clothing, school supplies).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Feeling Depressed	6 months follow-up	Felt down, depressed, or hopeless - 5 pt likert scale recategorized as reporting any frequency of these feelings in last 30 days versus none (assessed at 6 months follow up)
Felt Worried, Tense, or Anxious	6 months	Felt worried, tense, or anxious - 5 pt likert scale recategorized as any frequency of these feelings in the past 30 days versus no days reporting these feelings (assessed at 6 months follow-up)