Stepping Stones for Teen Pregnancy Prevention

(StSt Trial)

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen by Sarah Walsh, Ph.D.

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Recruiting

Sponsor: The Policy & Research Group

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Incarceration

No Placebo Group

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this randomized trial is to learn if the Stepping Stones (StSt) intervention has a positive impact on the sexual health and relationship behaviors of sexually active youth between the ages of 12 and 22 years old who are at risk for or involved in the legal or child welfare systems. The primary research questions it aims to answer are: * Three months after being offered the intervention, does StSt impact youth's receipt of sexually transmitted infection testing in the past four months? * Nine months after being offered the intervention, does StSt impact youth's frequency of having vaginal and anal sex without condoms in the past four months? * Nine months after being offered the intervention, does StSt impact youth's perpetration of emotional abuse in the past four months? Researchers will compare participants randomized to receive StSt (treatment group) to participants randomized to receive a control condition that contains no sexual or reproductive health information (control group). Participants randomized to the treatment group will be offered StSt as an-person, individual-based intervention delivered over four sessions during a 6-8 week period. Participants randomized to the control group will be offered a virtually delivered control condition.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

How is the Stepping Stones treatment different from other teen pregnancy prevention treatments?

Stepping Stones (StSt) is unique because it focuses on community mobilization and stakeholder education to support evidence-based interventions, unlike traditional programs that may not prioritize at-risk populations. This approach aims to create a supportive environment for implementing teen pregnancy prevention strategies. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Research Team

Sarah Walsh, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

The Policy & Research Group

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for sexually active youth aged 12-21 who are at risk or involved with juvenile justice/child welfare systems. It's not specified who can't join, but typically those unable to consent or follow the study protocol would be excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

At risk for or involved in the juvenile justice and/or child welfare systems

I have had vaginal or anal sex in the last 3 months.

Comfortable reading, speaking, and writing in English

Exclusion Criteria

Currently trying to start a pregnancy

Currently in jail or being detained in a facility

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive the Stepping Stones intervention over four sessions during a 6-8 week period

6-8 weeks

4 visits (in-person for treatment group), virtual for control group

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for outcomes related to sexual health and relationship behaviors

11 months

3 visits (self-reported data collection at baseline, 5 months, and 11 months post-baseline)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Stepping Stones (StSt) (Behavioural Intervention)

Trial Overview The 'Stepping Stones' intervention is being tested against a control condition with no sexual health info. The study checks if StSt affects STI testing rates, condom use during sex, and emotional abuse perpetration after offering it over four sessions in person.

Participant Groups

Group I: Stepping Stones Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Like Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Research Locations Nearby Select from list below to view details:

The Policy & Research Group New Orleans, LA

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The Policy & Research Group

Lead Sponsor

Trials

12

Patients Recruited

12,700+

Department of Health and Human Services Office of Population Affairs

Collaborator

Trials

4

Patients Recruited

5,400+

Public Health - Seattle and King County

Collaborator

Trials

10

Patients Recruited

8,600+

Reproductive Health National Training Center

Collaborator

Trials

4

Patients Recruited

5,400+

Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

Collaborator

Trials

68

Patients Recruited

31,130,000+

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Stakeholder Education and Community Mobilization Garner Support for Sex Education. [2021] The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio UT Teen Health (UTTH) implemented a community-wide teen pregnancy prevention (TPP) initiative in south San Antonio. This article describes how UTTH staff educated community stakeholders and mobilized community members to support implementation of evidence-based TPP interventions.

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A program evaluation of the Innovative Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs (iTP3) Project. [2022] Teen pregnancy prevention in the United States has traditionally focused on the development, testing, and subsequent implementation of a set of evidence-based programs (EBPs), recommended nationally. However, these existing EBPs often do not prioritize the most at-risk or vulnerable populations.

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Preventing unwanted adolescent pregnancy: a cognitive-behavioral approach. [2017] Teenage pregnancy is a growing social problem in the United States. Past interventive failures and current research suggest new directions for primary prevention. A comprehensive prevention program is outlined, and training techniques based on a cognitive-behavioral approach are proposed to help adolescents acquire skills necessary to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of an intensive, school-based intervention for teen mothers. [2019] This study evaluated the effectiveness of a secondary teen pregnancy prevention intervention that includes school-based social work services coordinated with comprehensive health care for teen mothers and their children.

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

School-based teenage pregnancy prevention programs: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. [2018] We compared school-based abstinence-only programs with those including contraceptive information (abstinence-plus) to determine which has the greatest impact on teen pregnancy. The United States has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the industrialized world. Programs aimed at reducing the rate of teen pregnancy include a myriad of approaches including encouraging abstinence, providing education about birth control, promoting community service activities, and teaching skills to cope with peer pressure. We systematically reviewed all published randomized controlled trials of secondary-school-based teen pregnancy prevention programs in the United States that used sexual behavior, contraceptive knowledge, contraceptive use, and pregnancy rates as outcomes.