Evaluating the Many Ways of Being Program

NCT05801601 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 90AP2693
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 700
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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.

Conditions

Sexual Behavior; Unprotected Sex

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Condomless sex (measure 1)

  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".

  9 months following program completion

• Unprotected vaginal sex (measure 2)

  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".

  9 months following program completion

Secondary Outcomes (15)

• Sexual agency

  9 months following program completion

• Knowledge related to healthy relationships

  Immediately post-program and 9 months following program completion

• Knowledge related to sexual and reproductive health (measure 1)

  Immediately post-program and 9 months following program completion

• Knowledge related to sexual and reproductive health (measure 2)

  Immediately post-program and 9 months following program completion

• Knowledge related to sexual and reproductive health (measure 3)

  Immediately post-program and 9 months following program completion

Study Arms (2)

Many Ways of Being

EXPERIMENTAL

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.

Behavioral: Many Ways of Being, an innovative sexual health promotion program focused on addressing rigid gender norms and promoting healthy relationships

A career readiness program

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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.

Behavioral: A career readiness program

Interventions

Many Ways of Being, an innovative sexual health promotion program focused on addressing rigid gender norms and promoting healthy relationships BEHAVIORAL

The Many Ways of Being program is a gender-synchronous program informed by Equimundo's existing single-gender Manhood 2.0 and Sisterhood 2.0 programs. The curriculum is designed to shift unequal gender attitudes and behaviors and provide skill-building on maintaining healthy relationships, making healthy and informed decisions around sex, and avoiding risky sexual behaviors.

Also known as: Many Ways of Being

Many Ways of Being

A career readiness program BEHAVIORAL

Youth enrolled in the control condition will receive a career readiness curriculum, either International Youth Foundation's Passport to Success, LAYC's Next Generation program or LAYC's Career Readiness Curriculum, depending on the site and implementation period. These programs equip young people with a range of professional, employment readiness, and practical skills that will help them stay in school and acquire the education, professional skills, employment

A career readiness program

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 15 Years - 19 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Youth age 15-19 in the greater Metropolitan DC area

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Child Trends: lead
• Latin American Youth Center: collaborator
• Equimundo:Center for Masculinities and Social Justice: collaborator
• Family and Youth Services Bureau: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

LAYC's Teen Center

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20009, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sexual Behavior; Unsafe Sex

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Jennifer Manlove, PhD

  Child Trends

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Jennifer Manlove, PhD

CONTACT

240-223-9262; jmanlove@childtrends.org

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: This research project will used an individual randomized controlled trial design in which youth at each intervention site will be randomized 1:1 into the experimental condition (Many Ways of Being) or the comparison condition (a career readiness program).

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 23, 2023
• First Posted: April 6, 2023
• Study Start: March 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: February 28, 2026
• Study Completion: February 28, 2026
• Last Updated: November 21, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-11

Locations

US (1)