An Evaluation of the Many Ways of Being Program

Many Ways of Being (MWB), created by Equimundo, is an innovative adolescent sexual health program aimed at promoting positive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) behaviors and preventing unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The program’s goals include shifting adolescents’ attitudes and behaviors and helping them build skills around forming and maintaining healthy relationships and making healthy, informed sexual decisions.

Research Approach

Child Trends is conducting a randomized control trial to assess the MWB program’s impacts on reducing adolescent sexual activity and unprotected sex and on key mediators (knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and intentions) related to sexual health-promoting behaviors. From Spring 2023 to Summer 2025, Latin American Youth Center and Child Trends is enrolling approximately 600 youth ages 15 to 19 from schools and community centers in the Washington, DC area. These youth will be randomly assigned to receive either MWB (treatment) or a control curriculum focused on job readiness. Using youth survey data from baseline, post-intervention, and 9-12 months after program completion—along with implementation data and qualitative findings from youth focus groups—the evaluation will assess program fidelity, youth perceptions of the program, and impacts on sexual health outcomes.

Below, we share findings to date from the evaluation study, highlighting participants’ demographics and their perceptions of both programs. We also share pre- and post-program findings that demonstrate the need for sexual health curricula and the value of MWB.

Youth Demographics

Preliminary Findings

Prior to programming, few youth felt prepared to make sexual health decisions or comfortable receiving SRH care. Only about half consistently used contraception or intended to use contraception.

Intentions To Use Contraception

• 63% intended to use a condom if they have penile-vaginal sex
• 43% intended to use birth control other than a condom if they have penile-vaginal sex

Sexual Health Self-Efficacy

• 22% felt prepared to make fully informed sexual decisions
• 24% plan to visit an SRH health care provider in the next year
• 21% felt comfortable going to a clinic or doctor’s office for SRH services

Behaviors

• 40% reported any sexual experience (including penile-vaginal sex, oral sex, anal sex, and sexual touching)
• 13% had penile-vaginal sex in the past 3 months
• 47% used a condom or another form of contraception every time they had penile-vaginal sex

Youth who participated in MWB increased their knowledge and self-efficacy related to SRH

Participants rated both MWB and the career readiness programming highly

Timeline

• Fall 2021-Summer 2022: Piloted the study
• Fall 2022-Summer 2025: Implementation and impact evaluation, with ongoing recruitment and follow-up data collection
• Fall 2025-Fall 2026: Analysis and final reporting

Publications