Social Network Interventions for Birth Control

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, San Diego

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 20

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how social networks and community discussions influence family planning behaviors among young, married women in Niger. Participants will either join small group discussions about family planning or pair with influential people in their social circles to observe how these interactions affect their choices. The goal is to understand and enhance how social norms can support better family planning use and services. Married women aged 15-24 living in the study villages may be suitable for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to groundbreaking research that could shape future family planning programs.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that these social network interventions are safe for promoting family planning?

Research shows that the Kulawa intervention emphasizes community activities like small group discussions and conversations. Other projects have used these methods to address family planning issues, and they are generally safe because they involve talking and sharing information.

For the Kulawa SN intervention, studies have shown that using social networks to promote healthy behaviors can yield positive effects without causing harm. This approach connects people with influential individuals in their social circles to share helpful information.

Both methods prioritize community and social interactions over medical procedures or drugs. So far, similar settings have reported no negative effects from these methods, indicating they are safe for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Kulawa interventions because they aim to empower young women in Niger to make informed family planning (FP) decisions by changing social norms and behaviors. Unlike traditional FP programs that focus solely on providing contraceptives, Kulawa uses small groups and community dialogues to address social and health system barriers, making FP services more accessible and culturally accepted. The Kulawa SN (Tipping Point) arm takes it a step further by incorporating social network influences, pairing young women with influencers in their community to enhance support and engagement. These unique approaches have the potential to create a lasting impact on FP behaviors and gender outcomes by fostering a supportive community environment.

What evidence suggests that this trial's interventions could be effective for promoting family planning among young women?

Research shows that discussing family planning in community settings can shift perceptions. One study found that women who participated in these discussions were 1.78 times more likely to use modern birth control methods. In this trial, the Kulawa program, which includes community talks, could encourage more young women to use birth control.

Another part of this trial, the Kulawa Social Network (SN) intervention, also appears promising. Studies suggest that social network-informed interventions can change health habits, including family planning use. By connecting women with influential people in their social circles, this approach might boost their confidence and ability to discuss contraception. Overall, both programs in this trial aim to increase family planning use by providing social support and changing social norms. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for married women aged 15-24 or their mothers-in-law living in certain villages of Niger's Maradi region, where the Kulawa FP program operates. Their husbands can also participate if they consent. Participants must agree to join discussions on family planning.

Inclusion Criteria

I am the husband of a study participant and have given my informed consent.

I am a married woman aged 15-24 or the mother-in-law of one, living in the recruitment village and have given my consent.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Formative Research

Data collection for formative research and intervention development, including qualitative social network interviews.

Not specified

Approximately 20 interviews

Pilot

Pilot survey assessments to refine study tools and social network intervention strategy.

Not specified

Surveys in two villages

Effectiveness Evaluation

3-arm RCT trial with baseline, midline, and endline data collection to evaluate intervention effectiveness.

24 months

Three waves of data collection

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in FP-related behaviors and social norms after intervention.

24 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Adopt-a-Friend
• Household Visits
• Small Groups

Trial Overview The study tests social strategies like 'Adopt-a-Friend', household visits, and small group discussions to see if they can improve family planning behaviors among young women by influencing social norms and networks within the community.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Kulawa SN (Tipping Point) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

This arm will receive the Kulawa intervention, with a social network-informed intervention (KulawaSN) layered on top. In this arm 50% of eligible women will be paired with an alter to receive the adapted intervention. The social network intervention will involve pairing up young married adolescents and women with someone identified as influential in their social networks and enrolling them in the Kulawa FP programming together.

Group II: Kulawa Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

This arm will receive the standard Kulawa intervention. Kulawa is a USAID-funded program that seeks to change FP-related behaviors among young, low parity women at scale in Niger. Kulawa, implemented by Save the Children U.S. aims to increase use of quality FP services of all WRA, including young women ages 15-24 years, in 15 districts of Niger across 3 regions (Tillaberi, Maradi, and Zinder), covering a population of 12.5 million. Kulawa will address individual, social, and health system constraints to FP use through interventions to change behavior and influence social norms that govern FP use and related gender outcomes as well as interventions to improve FP service availability and quality. Kulawa SBC programming at the community-level will include small groups for young, low parity women and girls (ages 15-24) and community dialogues.

Group III: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

This arm will serve as the control condition. Individuals in these villages will receive neither intervention (including any other FP-relevant SBC program)

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, San Diego

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,215

Recruited

1,593,000+

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Collaborator

Trials

428

Recruited

23,060,000+

Save the Children

Collaborator

Trials

34

Recruited

208,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05777473

Tipping Point: Using Social Network Theory to Accelerate ... This study will assess the nature and impact of social norms and networks to promote FP (Family Planning) intervention effects among low parity, ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-contraception-11-2020-9fd86

Social Network Interventions for Birth Control This study will assess the nature and impact of social norms and networks to promote FP (Family Planning) intervention effects among low parity, ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6719831/

Social network interventions for health behaviours and ... Our findings suggest that social network interventions can be effective in the short term (<6 months) and longer term (>6 months) for sexual ...

4. centerwatch.com centerwatch.com/clinical-trials/listings/condition/374/contraception?activelyRecruiting=false&page=8

Contraception Clinical Research Trials To evaluate intervention outcomes, baseline assessments in both intervention and control arms will obtain quantitative data from family physicians and ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8988370/

evaluation of an intervention addressing Unmet need for ... Examine intervention effects on intermediate outcomes: self-efficacy in FP use; confidence in accessing contraception; couple communication ...

6. verixiv.org verixiv.org/articles/2-63/pdf

Influence of social networks on women's contraceptive ... We explored ways in which women's social networks partners, relatives and peers influence their contraceptive decision-making ability. Methods.

7. breakthroughactionandresearch.org breakthroughactionandresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/BR_RISEII_Niger_Baseline_Report.pdf

Evaluation of RISE II integrated social and behavior ... This information will support RISE II RFSAs to understand how to tailor planned SBC approaches to address barriers to adopting targeted health behaviors.

8. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/357856442_Experiences_Engaging_Family_Members_in_Maternal_Child_and_Adolescent_Nutrition_A_Survey_of_Global_Health_Professionals

(PDF) Experiences Engaging Family Members in Maternal ... Objectives This research aimed to document global health professionals' experiences engaging family members in nutrition activities, and their perceived ...