LeadHer, a Gender-specific Teen Pregnancy Prevention Curriculum for Girls 15-19

Alternatives For Girls508 enrolled

Overview

Alternatives For Girls (AFG) is offering LeadHer as a gender-specific teen pregnancy prevention curriculum to girls between the ages of 14-19 years old who live in Wayne County, MI. The curriculum seeks to demonstrate that girls who participate in LeadHer will show increased rates of avoidance of unprotected sex, will show increased use of birth control and reduced rates of pregnancy. LeadHer will run over a 6-session period covering topics designed to prevent teen pregnancy and develop girls into leaders. The sessions will be co-led by youth (Peer Educators).

LeadHer is a 30-hour curriculum provided under rigorous evaluation, random assignment protocols and covering factual information related to sexual intercourse, including the risks of sex, sexually transmitted infections and use of birth control, along with the following adult preparation topics: Healthy relationships, Adolescent development, Healthy life skills, and Educational and career success. The project is designed to run for five years; years 2 through 4 will involve providing the intervention curriculum to a total of 300 girls. There will be a control group, Sassy Science running in tandem with LeadHer for 300 girls. Groups will take place at the Alternatives For Girls facility as well as off-site within the community at local schools, primarily during after-school hours and community centers.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

508

Conditions

Teenage Pregnancy

Interventions

LeadHerBEHAVIORAL

The 30-hour curriculum is delivered for five hours per week, either split over multiple after school sessions or one five-hour-long session conducted at AFG headquarters or a community-based partner site.

Sassy ScienceBEHAVIORAL

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 14 YearsMax age: 19 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Grade level: 8th grade through high school graduation; Race/ethnicity or tribe: As reflected in the Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan communities: African American, Latina, White, Mixed Races. At the time of the latest U.S. Census data, teens in Detroit were 81.9% African American, 9.7% Latino/a, 4.4% Caucasian, and 3.9% other races/ethnicities; Risk characteristics: Many will be at-risk by virtue of living within 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, doing poorly in local schools, being exposed to gang activities, and being sexually active; Other characteristics: living in Wayne County at the start of the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Target population participants who are already in another pregnancy prevention program.

Locations (1)

Alternatives For Girls

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Avoidance of unprotected sex

Participants will refrain from having sex or avoid sex without protection.

Time frame: Up to 12 months post the beginning of intervention.

Use of birth control

Participants decided to have sex, they will use birth control.

Time frame: Up to 12 months post the beginning of intervention.

Presence of pregnancy

Participants will get pregnant.

Time frame: Up to 12 months post the beginning of intervention.

Secondary Outcomes

Participants will report increased knowledge about Healthy Relationships

Participants will report increased knowledge regarding ways to develop healthy relationships with parent/trusted adults and regarding dating violence. This will be collected via pre-tests and post-tests.

Time frame: Up to 12 months post the beginning of intervention.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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