Introduction: Adolescent pregnancy and early initiation of sexual activity is a serious global public health problem, every year, around sixteen million adolescents between 15 and 19 years of age give birth, representing 11% of all births globally. Objective: To design a protocol of a pilot Randomized Controlled Trial to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of the "Be Yourself" intervention to increase self-determined motivation to prevent pregnancy in adolescents in secondary education. Methods: The protocol was developed based on the Protocol Items: ecommendations for Interventional Trials 2013 (SPIRIT2013) Statement, in the City of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico in 2023. Results: The protocol outlined the design of the intervention, structured the content of the sessions using a logic model of intervention, and developed manuals for program facilitators and guides for participants. In addition, a website and a chatbot with Artificial Intelligence were developed, and the strategy for the application of the evaluation instruments was established. Conclusion: The educational intervention "Be yourself" is projected as a promising program to promote self-determined motivation and prevent adolescent pregnancy.
Adolescents between 11 and 15 years of age enrolled in public high schools in Nuevo León will be included.
Be male or female, regardless of whether they have initiated their sexual life. sexually active.
Have access to a computer room with internet to use the web page and the interventions chatbot.
Live at the same address with their parents or legal guardian.
Have previously participated in a similar sexuality intervention.
Have cognitive or developmental difficulties that impede their understanding of the intervention and use of the technology platform, including people with
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at levels that affect functional communication, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with severe attention difficulties, or those who cannot read and write.
Parallel
"Be yourself", educational intervention with chatbot to promote self-determined motivation and prevent adolescent pregnancy: pilot trial protocol
BehavioralThe "Be Yourself" educational intervention stands out for its focus on self-determined motivation and teen pregnancy prevention. Unlike traditional interventions, which focus on transmitting information, this intervention promotes adolescent autonomy in making responsible sexual decisions. It uses interactive technology such as a web page and a chatbot, which provide personalized follow-up and reinforcement activities between sessions, encouraging active participation. It also employs competency-based learning, which strengthens practical and emotional skills, such as effective communication and problem solving. Sessions include role-plays and practical activities to apply what has been learned. This comprehensive approach and the use of digital platforms distinguish "Be Yourself" from other interventions, offering continuous and personalized accompaniment to reinforce learning throughout the process.
Conventional Sex Education
Other interventionFor the CG, two theoretical sessions are planned. In the first, an orientation on adolescent sexual health will be provided through a one-hour PowerPoint presentation. Topics of anatomy, physiology, biological changes in adolescence and contraceptive methods will be addressed, highlighting their proper use and the prevention of adolescent pregnancy. The second session, also lasting one hour, will develop sexual health self-care skills, discussing the importance of self-care, self-respect and informed decision making. There will be a question and answer session to address concerns and reflect on how self-care contributes to a healthy and safe sexual life.
Increased rates of Self-Determined Motivation to prevent teenage pregnancy
Change in levels of self-determined motivation for adolescent pregnancy prevention will be assessed using context-specific psychometric tools. It is expected that the intervention will increase intrinsic motivation and encourage responsible sexual decision-making. For this measurement, the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3), originally developed to assess motivation in physical activity and subsequently adapted to the Mexican context to measure behavioral regulation in pregnancy prevention, will be used. The peer-reviewed adaptation retained its psychometric validity. The questionnaire uses a five-point Likert scale and calculates self-determined motivation using the Self-Determination Index (SDI) with the following formula: 3 \* intrinsic regulation) + (2 \* integrated regulation) + (1 \* identified regulation) - (1 \* introjected regulation) - (2 \* external regulation) - (3 \* no motivation), with reliability reported in different studies.
Increase in the Level of Knowledge about Pregnancy Prevention
The Sexual and Reproductive Health Knowledge Scale will be used to assess the level of knowledge in this area. The instrument, originally composed of 128 items, addresses four dimensions: sexual health, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and STIs, and condom use. For this study, 29 items were selected from the dimensions of sexual health, reproductive health and condom use. The responses follow a Likert-type scale with options: true (1), false (2) and don't know (8), although in some items the "true" and "false" scores are reversed. For the analysis, the "don't know" option will be recoded as 0, and the correct answers as 1, establishing a dichotomous scale (0-1), where higher scores indicate a higher level of knowledge.
Improving Communication on Sexual Issues
This outcome will be assessed using the Communication about Sexual Issues with Parents, Friends, and Partners Instrument, focusing on pregnancy prevention. Six of the original nine items will be used. The response scale is a five-point Likert scale (1 = not at all, 5 = very much), with a total score from 6 to 30, where higher values indicate greater perceived communication. The information received on reproduction, contraception, condom use and social pressure in sexual relations will be analyzed. An increase in the quality and frequency of these interactions is expected, favoring informed decision making.
Change in Life Goals
The Aspirations Index Instrument will be used to evaluate the importance of life goals in adolescents, considering both extrinsic goals (wealth, fame, image and power) and intrinsic goals (relationships, personal growth, social contribution, self-expression and mastery). The questionnaire, previously adapted to the Mexican context, will have 51 items and will be applied using a seven-point Likert scale (1 = not at all important, 7 = very important). Higher scores will reflect a greater importance given to personal aspirations. It is expected that the application of this instrument will provide reliable results, supported by previous studies that have reported.
Risk and Protective Intention
The Adolescent Sexual Activity Intention Scale will assess the willingness of both female and male adolescents to adopt protective or risky behaviors in their sexual lives. This measure is derived from the Female and Male Reproductive Sexuality Questionnaires (F-M CSR), developed to identify factors such as personal attitudes, normative beliefs, and perceived control in sexual decision making. The scale consists of six items, organized into two categories: risk intention and intention towards protection, addressing the use of contraceptive methods, abstinence and delaying the onset of sexual activity. A Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) is used, where higher values indicate a greater intention to adopt the evaluated behavior. Examples of items include: "When I have sex, I plan to use condoms to prevent pregnancy and STIs" (male version) and "When I have sex, I plan to take oral pills to prevent pregnancy" (female version).
Sexual behavior in relation to teenage pregnancy prevention.
The sexual behavior variable in relation to the prevention of adolescent pregnancy will be measured using the Sexual Activity Scale, adapted to evaluate this behavior in the context of adolescent pregnancy prevention. This scale measures the frequency of five behaviors: holding hands, kissing, touching, caressing genitals and having sexual intercourse, using a Likert scale from 1 (never) to 5 (always). From this assessment, three indicators will be generated: conventional, pre-penetrative and penetrative sexual activity. In addition, risk factors such as age of sexual debut, number of partners, frequency of penetrative sex, condom use and perceived risk of pregnancy will be analyzed. For sexually inexperienced adolescents, their willingness to initiate sexual intercourse will be explored by means of statements evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5, where higher scores will indicate a greater inclination towards sexual activity.
Pregnancy prevention sexual behavior Pregnancy
The scale used to measure pregnancy-preventive sexual behavior is based on the Sexual Health and Reproductive Health Knowledge Scale, derived from Vargas' (2013) Psychometric Scale of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in Sexual Health and Reproductive Health. This scale includes four dimensions: sexual health, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and STIs, and condom use, each subdivided into knowledge, attitudes, and practices. For this study, 20 items were selected from the dimensions of sexual health, reproductive health, and condom use, focusing on the category of practices. The scale uses a Likert-type response with five options: always = 1, almost always = 2, sometimes = 3, almost never = 4, and never = 5. However, items 1, 5, 10, 12 and 19 have inverted scores. The lower the score, the greater the manifestation of pregnancy prevention behavior.
Process of sexual behavior change in adolescents
The University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (URICA) will be adapted to measure the Adolescent Sexual Behavior Change Process. This adaptation will assess the phases of change - precontemplation, contemplation, action, and maintenance - as they relate to adolescent sexual behavior, using a 5-point Likert scale. The items of the instrument will be adjusted to be relevant and specific to the context of adolescent sexuality, thus allowing for an accurate assessment of readiness to change in this population. The score obtained will be calculated by averaging the items in each phase, and the formula for determining readiness to change in relation to sexual behavior will be used. The formula for calculating readiness to change on the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (URICA) is as follows: Readiness to Change = (Mean Contemplation + Mean Action + Mean Maintenance) - Mean Precontemplation.
Evaluation of System Usability in the "Be Yourself" Intervention
The System Usability Scale (USS) will be used to evaluate the perceived usability of the web platform and chatbot of the "Be Yourself" intervention. This scale consists of 10 items, with both positive and negative statements, and its total score ranges from 0 to 100, where higher values indicate better usability. The EUS measures two main factors: "Usability" (items 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) and "Ease of Learning" (items 4 and 10). In this evaluation, aspects such as ease of use, integration of functions, consistency in navigation and user confidence when interacting with the platform and the chatbot will be analyzed. The results will allow us to identify areas for improvement, optimize the participants' experience and strengthen the accessibility of the educational intervention.
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