Untitled Prevention Intervention for Hispanic Couples

 

 

The Untitled Prevention Intervention for Hispanic Couples is a community-based intervention program designed to bring people together to learn about improving parenting and/or sexual behaviors.  The intervention utilizes interactive sessions with trained facilitators to inform and engage couples on topics pertaining to sexual activity, relationship quality, and/or parenting. Although all participants involved in the evaluation experienced increases in effective and consistent contraceptive use, no significant differences were found between the intervention and control groups.

 

Target population: Hispanic women in a heterosexual relationship, age 18-25

 

This intervention consists of three group sessions that each run for approximately two and a half hours. Sessions are held consecutively over a three to nine week period.  Extensive field research, interviews and a pilot intervention were implemented to ensure that the intervention would be culturally sensitive and appropriate for each community.

 

The sessions incorporated a curriculum that covered a variety of topics related to sexual health and well-being, as well as parenting. Topics included general sexual activity, relationship quality and communication, condom and other contraceptive use, monogamy, safe sex practices, pregnancy, HIV/STDs and reproductive intentions. Sessions consisted of skills-based activities, open discussion, group and individual couple activities, as well as behavior modeling, role-playing and games.  Teams of trained facilitators were responsible for conducting the sessions.

 

 

EVALUATION(S) OF PROGRAM

Harvey, S.M., Henderson, J.T., Thorburn, S., Beckman, L.J., Mendez, L., & Cervantes, R. (2004). A Randomized study of a pregnancy and disease prevention intervention for Hispanic couples. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 36(4), 162-169.

 

Evaluated population: Hispanic women ages 18-25 were recruited in Los Angeles to participate.  Women had to be involved with a male partner age 18 years or older, of any race/ethnicity. Eligibility was also contingent upon at least one reported risk behavior related to sexual activity or drug use. 202 couples started the study.

 

Approach:  After completing a baseline interview, 141 participants were organized into groups of six to twelve couples. These groups were then randomly assigned to either a treatment (n=69) or comparison (n=72) condition.  The control group received a single informational session which lasted approximately two hours and coincided with the first session of the intervention group.  The comparison group received $15 for attending the informational session.

 

Follow-up interviews were conducted with both male and female participants three months after program completion and again at six months with female participants only. Again, participants were offered compensation for completion of an interview. Seventy-three percent (n=107) of participants completed a three-month follow-up and were included in analyses.

 

All interviews were conducted using a computer-assisted survey. This technique allowed participants to submit answers directly into the computer if necessary. Measures included rates of unprotected sexual activity, consistency of condom use, consistency of effective contraceptive use, in addition to other demographic characteristics and risk factors. No use and inconsistent use of contraceptives were combined with ineffective contraceptive use.

 

Results:   At the three-month follow-up, intervention couples were no more likely than control couples to report condom use. For both groups, the number of unprotected sex acts decreased, while the consistency of condom use and proportion of protected sex acts increased. Among female participants, those who received the intervention were no more likely than those who did not to use effective contraception consistently at three and six months post program. Instead, consistent use of contraception increased for both groups from baseline up until six months. Overall, the evaluation found no significant differences between groups.

 

There are several limitations to the study which may also be responsible for the lack of intervention effects. First, outside exposure to health awareness campaigns or media may have influenced participant behavior and was not accounted for in analyses. Second, the basic awareness provided to both groups by the baseline interviews may have been sufficient to temporarily alter behavior. Third, the sample included in the study was drawn from a fairly homogeneous population. Finally, both members of a couple had to agree to participate in the study regardless of condition assignment. Participants may be significantly different from those couples who opted not to participate.

 

 

Program categorized in this guide according to the following:

 

Evaluated participant ages: 18-25

Program components: clinic-based, provider-based, or miscellaneous; community or media campaign; counseling/therapy

Measured outcomes: teen pregnancy and reproductive health

 

KEYWORDS: Young Adults (18-24), Youth, Female, Adolescent mothers, Hispanic/latino, urban, clinic based, condom use and contraception, sexual activity, std/hiv/aids 

Program information last updated 9/8/2009.

 

 

 

		© Child Trends 2003