Adolescent Behavior, Sexual Behavior
Conditions
Brief summary
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the impacts of El Camino, a goal-setting sexual health promotion program targeted toward Latino adolescents. The primary research questions are: * Research Question 1: Is participation in the El Camino goal setting program associated with greater abstinence (measured as never had sex, no recent sexual activity) relative to a comparison group that did not receive El Camino? * Research Question 2: Is participation in El Camino associated with reduced unprotected sex (measured as sex without any method of contraception, sex without a condom) for the intervention group relative to the comparison group? Researchers will compare those who received El Camino to a comparison group who received an alternative program that does not include sexual health components. As part of the study, participants will be asked to: * Attend approximately 11 hours of programming completed over 11 weeks * Complete baseline, post-intervention, and 12-month follow-up surveys * For select participants who received the El Camino program, participate in an optional focus group discussion
Interventions
BEHAVIORALEl Camino
El Camino is a goal-setting sexual health promotion program. El Camino's lessons and activities: * Are anchored in sexual health promotion and goal-setting * Incorporate a goal achievement model throughout the curriculum * Are designed with a focus on the needs of Latino youth * Focus on the most effective forms of contraception, including long-acting reversible contraceptives The El Camino curriculum contains eleven 45-minute lessons and is divided into three sections, or arcs. The three arcs focus on goal setting, sexual and reproductive health, and healthy relationships.
BEHAVIORALLife skills program
Youth enrolled in the control condition will receive one of several curricula focused on life skills or leadership, depending on the site and implementation period. These curricula include PODER, an 11-session curriculum that focuses on youth leadership development; Youth Encuentros, a psychoeducational curriculum focused on mental health; El Joven Noble, a youth leadership curriculum; and Courageous Queens, a socio-emotional and character strengthening curriculum.
Sponsors
Identity, Inc.
University of Maryland
Child Trends
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
14 Years to 21 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* High school student in Montgomery County, MD * Have not previously received El Camino during pilot study * Have parental consent (if under 18) * Agree to be in study
Exclusion criteria
* Previously participated in pilot study and received El Camino curriculum * No parental consent (if under 18) * Do not agree to be in study
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ever had penis-in-vagina sex | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | Ever had penis-in-vagina sex (yes/no). Dichotomous variable coded 1 if yes, 0 if no and missing otherwise |
| Had penis-in-vagina sex in the last three months | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | Had penile-vaginal sex in the past three months, even once (yes/no). Dichotomous variable coded 1 if yes, 0 if no and missing otherwise |
| Had penis-in-vagina sex in the last three months without any method of contraception | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | Survey measure: In the past 3 months, how often have you or your partner used any method of birth control, including condoms, during penis-in-vagina sex? 5 response categories: 4-point scale from All of the time (4) to None of the time (1) and I don't know. Coded as 0 if answer is All of the time. Otherwise coded as 1 |
| Had penis-in-vagina sex in the last three months without use of a condom | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | Survey measure: In the past 3 months, how often have you or your partner used condoms during penis-in-vagina sex? 5 response categories: 4-point scale from All of the time (4) to None of the time (1) and I don't know. Coded as 0 if answer is All of the time. Otherwise coded 1 |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge about birth control | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | Sum the # of correct responses to 4 items (sample item: The IUD is more effective at preventing pregnancy than the condom-don't know is considered an incorrect response) |
| Knowledge about consent | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | Sum the # of correct responses to 5 items (sample item: Is someone consenting to have sex with you if they make out with you clothed-don't know is considered an incorrect response) |
| Attitudes about birth control | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | Average score of 2 items (birth control pills are effective at preventing pregnancy, birth control has too many side effects). Response options on 4-point scale from Strongly disagree to strongly agree) |
| Attitudes about condoms | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | Dichotomous variable measuring 1 if answers strongly agree to condoms should always be used, and strongly disagree to it is ok if you forget to use condoms sometimes. Response options on 4-point scale from Strongly disagree to strongly agree |
| Definitely know where to get birth control | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | Dichotomous variable measured as 1 if respond definitely and 0 for all other responses (probably do, probably don't, or definitely don't know where to get birth control methods) |
| Intend to use condoms | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | Intend to use condoms if having sex (dichotomous variable coded as 1 if responds yes definitely vs. 0 if probably yes, probably not, or definitely not) |
| Confidence discussing sex, contraception | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | Average score of 2 items (how confident you could talk to your partner about whether to have sex, talk to your partner about using condoms. Response options on 4-point scale from Strongly disagree to strongly agree) |
| Confidence limit setting | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | Average score of 3 items (sample item: how confident you could say no to sex if your partner won't use a condom) Response options on 4-point scale from Strongly disagree to strongly agree) |
| Confidence stating and asking for consent | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | Dichotomous variable coded as 1 if completely confident on 2 items (vs. all other responses) |
| Decreased psychological distress | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) - frequency of 6 symptoms over the past 30 days. Response options on 5-point scale from none of the time (coded 1) to all of the time (coded 5). Scores summed across all 6 symptoms. Used as a continuous score |
| Increased educational goal setting | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | How likely is it that you will do each of the following: (a) graduate from high school; (b) continue education after high school; (c) graduate from college. Response options on a 5-point scale from not at all likely (coded 1) to completely likely (coded 5). Scores for each item used separately as continuous scores |
| Confidence going to a clinic to get contraception | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | Response options on 4-point scale from not at all confident to completely confident |
| Intend to use contraception | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | Intend to use contraception if having sex (dichotomous variable coded as 1 if responds yes definitely vs. 0 if any other response) |
| Awareness of birth control methods | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | Sum the # of methods responding yes to have you heard of any of these methods of birth control - response options: 0-6 |
| Knowledge about condoms | Immediately following program completion, 12 months after program completion | Sum the # of correct responses to 5 items (sample item: Condoms have an expiration date-don't know is considered an incorrect response) |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed