The purpose of this study is to determine the impact Pono Choices has among youth for teen pregnancy and STI prevention measures such as: initiation of sexual activity; engagement in high risk sexual behaviors; knowledge of pregnancy and STI prevention; attitudes toward healthy sexual behaviors; skills in managing relationships and choices; and intentions about future sexual activity.
The study used a cluster randomized controlled design to evaluate the impact of Pono Choices. Thirty-six middle schools in Hawaii were randomly assigned to participate as either a treatment or control school. Treatment school teachers were trained to deliver Pono Choices. Control school teachers did not receive training and chose their own middle school sexual health education curricula. Over 1,700 7th and 8th grade students in 34 Hawaii schools enrolled into the study. As part of the study, students were invited to participate in baseline and follow-up surveys. The student survey responses were used to determine the impact Pono Choices has on teen pregnancy and STI prevention measures.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
1,783
Medically accurate teen pregnancy and STI prevention education delivered through a place-based framework integrating Hawaiian cultural activities that draw upon both historical and local references.
Teen pregnancy and STI prevention education left to the discretion of the school.
Initiation of sexual activity assessed by the percent reporting on the questionnaire that they have had sexual intercourse.
Time frame: 1 year
Engagement in high risk sexual behaviors assessed by the percent reporting on the questionnaire that they have engaged in sexual intercourse without a condom or other effective method of birth control in the past 3 months.
Time frame: 1 year
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