Evaluating the Many Ways of Being Program

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

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

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

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.

BEHAVIORAL

A career readiness program

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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Latin American Youth Center

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Equimundo:Center for Masculinities and Social Justice

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Family and Youth Services Bureau

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Child Trends

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jennifer Manlove, PhD · Child Trends

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

15 Years

Max Age

19 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-03-01

Primary Completion

2026-02-28

Completion

2026-02-28

Countries

• United States

Study Locations