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

3825 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study will assess the nature and impact of social norms and networks to promote FP (Family Planning) intervention effects among low parity, married adolescent and young women in the Maradi region of Niger. Research activities will be layered on top of the USAID-funded Kulawa FP program that seeks to change FP-related behaviors among young, low parity women at scale in Niger in a subset of implementing villages. Kulawa, implemented by Save the Children U.S. (SCUS) and funded by USAID (2020-2025), will include small-group discussion for young, low parity girls coupled with community dialogues to address individual, social, and health system constraints to FP use and influence social norms that govern FP use. UCSD will not provide any services or implement any interventions as part of this study.

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+