Empowering Young Parents Evaluating the Safe Dates for Young Parents Program to Improve Sexual Health and Prevent Intimate Partner Violence in Pregnant or Parenting Young Females Aged 14 to 21

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to understand how the Safe Dates for Young Parents SDYP program influences sexual and reproductive health behaviors, attitudes about healthy relationships, and intimate partner violence IPV prevention in adolescent and young adult females who are pregnant or parenting. Researchers want to see if the SDYP intervention changes these behaviors and beliefs compared to those who do not receive the program. Participants in the SDYP group will take part in ten 50-minute group sessions involving interactive discussions, role-plays, games, brainstorming, and creative activities like poster contests and theatrical plays. The control group will receive standard services such as case management and comprehensive sex education but without the IPV or healthy relationship content included in SDYP. Referrals to additional services will be available for all participants as needed. During the study, participants will complete interviews at three, six, and twelve months to assess sexual behaviors like condomless vaginal or anal sex, experiences of sexual and reproductive coercion, negotiation of contraception use, IPV occurrences, and attitudes toward healthy relationships. Researchers will monitor changes over time to evaluate the programs impact. The total participation lasts about one year, with ongoing contact information collection and verbal consent obtained for enrollment.

Empowering Young Parents: Building Healthy Relationships Study