We Are Here Now: a Multi-level, Multicomponent Sexual and Reproductive Health Intervention for American Indian Youth

Summary

N/E is a community-based participatory research (CBPR) multi-level, multi-component sexual and reproductive health (SRH) intervention, constructed on Ecological Systems Theory. N/E is based on Fort Peck tribal members' desire to implement a holistic SRH intervention for American Indian youth. N/E includes: 1) A school-based SRH curriculum called Native Stand, designed to address individual-level factors that lead to sexual risk behaviors; 2) a family-level curriculum called Native Voices, tailored to increase communication between adult family members and youth about SRH topics; 3) a cultural mentoring component at the community level that pairs American Indian youth with adults and elders to discuss traditional American Indian beliefs and practices about SRH; and 4) a mobilizing strategy to activate a multi-sectoral network of youth-servicing organizations at the systems level in Fort Peck to coordinate SRH services for American Indian youth. The overarching aim of this proposal is to refine, tailor, and finalize the components of N/E and evaluate its efficacy. We will use a cluster-randomized stepped-wedge design (SWD), in which 5 schools that American Indian youth from Fort Peck attend are the clusters to be randomized into the intervention 1 at a time, with all schools eventually being randomized to the intervention. The 5 schools are located in separate communities, mitigating the potential for cross-contamination. N/E is a 5-year study involving 456 14- to 18-year-old American Indian youth.

Conditions

• Reproductive Behavior
• Sexual Behavior

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

We are here now: a multi-level, multi-component sexual and reproductive health intervention for American Indian youth

N/E will be implemented simultaneously over the 9-month school year. Components include: 1) Individual Level- Native Stand 2) Family Level - Native Voices; 3) Community Level - Cultural mentoring program; and 4) Systems Level. The fourth level of N/E mobilizes the existing Epidemiology Team to enhance the coordination and implementation of SRH services at Fort Peck.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Northern Arizona University

  collaborator OTHER

• Fort Peck Community College

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

  collaborator NIH

• Montana State University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Elizabeth L Rink, PhD · Montana State University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

SEQUENTIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

14 Years

Max Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-05-01

Primary Completion

2023-11-30

Completion

2023-11-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations