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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Study protocol

Community embedded reproductive health interventions for adolescents in Latin America: development and evaluation of a complex multi-centre intervention

Authors: Peter Decat, Erica Nelson, Sarah De Meyer, Lina Jaruseviciene, Miguel Orozco, Zoyla Segura, Anna Gorter, Bernardo Vega, Kathya Cordova, Lea Maes, Marleen Temmerman, Els Leye, Olivier Degomme

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

Adolescents in Latin America are at high risk for unwanted and unplanned pregnancies, which often result in unsafe abortions or poor maternal health outcomes. Both young men and women in the region face an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections due to inadequate sexual and reproductive health information, services and counselling. To date, many adolescent health programmes have targeted a single determinant of sexual and reproductive health. However, recent evidence suggests that the complexity of sexual and reproductive health issues demands an equally multi-layered and comprehensive approach.

Methods

This article describes the development, implementation and evaluation design of the community-embedded reproductive health care for adolescents (CERCA) study in three Latin American cities: Cochabamba (Bolivia), Cuenca (Ecuador) and Managua (Nicaragua). Project CERCA’s research methodology builds on existing methodological frameworks, namely: action research, community based participatory research and intervention-mapping.
The interventions in each country address distinct target groups (adolescents, parents, local authorities and health providers) and seek improvement of the following sexual health behaviours: communication about sexuality, sexual and reproductive health information-seeking, access to sexual and reproductive health care and safe sexual relationships.
In Managua, we implemented a randomised controlled study, and in Cochabamba and Cuenca we adopted a non-randomised controlled study to evaluate the effectiveness of Project CERCA interventions, in addition to a process evaluation.

Discussion

This research will result in a methodological framework that will contribute to the improved design and implementation of future adolescent sexual and reproductive health interventions.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01722084)
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Community embedded reproductive health interventions for adolescents in Latin America: development and evaluation of a complex multi-centre intervention
Authors
Peter Decat
Erica Nelson
Sarah De Meyer
Lina Jaruseviciene
Miguel Orozco
Zoyla Segura
Anna Gorter
Bernardo Vega
Kathya Cordova
Lea Maes
Marleen Temmerman
Els Leye
Olivier Degomme
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-31

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