Randomized Controlled Trial of a Gender-transformative School-based Sexual Health Intervention

Study Protocol: a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Gender-transformative School-based Sexual Health Intervention in Chilean Students

The goal of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive gender-transformative intervention of sexual education (ENFOCATE -Focus-on) in adolescents, using a mixed experimental design. The intervention will be directed exclusively to students of the 10th and 11th grades who are enrolled in one of the education establishments that depend on the Municipality of Santiago. The randomization will be by grade, and the data will be collected at three moments (pre-intervention, post-intervention and a 3-month follow-up).

The investigators propose a mixed experimental design with a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that will evaluate the efficiency of an intervention and implementation of a comprehensive gender-transformative sexual education, along with qualitative studies to understand the implementation process. The results of the intervention will be evaluated after it finishes, and in a three-month follow-up. Each participant will be sent a link to the questionnaire (web-based survey). Follow-up contact will be done with WhatsApp or telephone calls.

The hypothesis is that the intervention designed and implemented in the experimental group: (1) will increase their sexuality knowledge level; (2) will increase their preventive sexual behavior (or intentions); (3) will favor a gender-positive attitude; and (4) will decrease internalizing and externalizing problems in mental health. The secondary objective is to examine the implementation intervention process, that is, identify the strengths and obstacles in the real context in which the study intervention is performed, to understand the determinants and strategies of the success of the implementation.

Inclusion Criteria

• Schools with students of the 10th and 11th grades who are enrolled in one of the education establishments that depend on the Municipality of Santiago.
• Schools not being an education center oriented to adults or persons deprived of liberty (e.g. closed or semi-closed compounds of Gendarmería de Chile or the National Service for Minors)
• Schools with regularity in teaching and learning (for example, schools that were not partially interrupted in 2022 by student manifestations)
• Schools with informed consent of the director.
• Students having 90% or greater attendance in classes
• Students providing informed consent of voluntary participation
• Students having explicit and informed consent of their parents or guardians.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Schools being an education center oriented to adults or persons deprived of liberty
• Schools without informed consent of the director
• Students without class attendance
• Students without informed consent of voluntary participation
• Students without an explicit and informed consent of their parents or guardians