A Cluster Randomized Trial of a Gender-Synchronized Program to Promote Family Planning and Gender Equity Among Married Adolescents and Their Husbands in Niger: Effects of the Reaching Married Adolescents (RMA) Program and the Role of Male Engagement

Jay Silverman , University of California, San Diego
Bram Brooks, Pathfinder
Sani Aliou, Pathfinder
Nicole Johns
Sneha Challa, University of California, San Diego
Nicole Carter, University of California, San Diego
Holly Shakya, University of California, San Diego
Sabrina Boyce, University of California, San Diego
Anita Raj, University of California, San Diego
Stephanie DeLong, University of California, San Diego

Girls in Niger experience the highest adolescent fertility globally. Findings from a cluster RCT of a program to promote contraceptive use and gender equity among married adolescents in the Dosso region are presented. Reaching Married Adolescents (RMA), a community-based and gender-synchronized program was evaluated via a 4-arm design, allowing for testing of three intervention models. Adolescent wives ages 13-19 years (n=1072) and their husbands (n=1080) recruited from 48 villages provided survey data at baseline and 23 months follow-up. Relative to controls, intervention arms inclusive of household visits increased current contraceptive use (AORs 4.4-5.4), and those inclusive of small groups reduced past year IPV (AORs 0.4). Husband participation in one arm (household visits only) resulted in additional increases in FP use (AOR 6.9). Male engagement did not modify intervention effects for past year IPV. The RMA program was found effective, but different program modalities appear to result in improvements in contraceptive use vs. improvements in safety from IPV.

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 Presented in Session 129. Fertility, Family Planning, and Reproductive Health: Programs and Quality of Care