About this trial
The goal of this cluster randomized controlled trial is to learn if the multi-level, community-based family planning intervention, known as the Family Health=Family Wealth (FH=FW) program, can improve family planning outcomes in couples of reproductive age in Uganda. The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. Does FH=FW participation reduce unintended pregnancy and increase contraceptive uptake among couples who say they want to delay pregnancy over 24-months? 2. Does FH=FW participation reduce discontinuation of contraceptive methods for those who adopt them over 24-months? 3. What factors affect the implementation of the FH=FW intervention?
Researchers will compare change in the above outcomes in couples receiving the FH=FW intervention to those who instead receive a water, sanitation, and hygiene intervention.
Couples in the FH=FW arm will be asked to attend 6 groups sessions where they learn about family planning's benefits to their health and well-being alongside content to increase their shared spousal decision-making and communication skills, their access to family planning services, and their perceptions of community acceptance of family planning.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Women aged 18 (or emancipated minors - those 15-17 who are married and/or have children) to 49 and men aged 18 (or emancipated minors age 15-17) to 54. The upper age limits follow those used by the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) to define "reproductive age."
Married or considers themselves married and living together most of the time
Residing in communities selected for study inclusion
Luganda speaking
Disqualifiers
At least one person in the couple does not expect to be available for all sessions
The woman or man is not able to reproduce due to a known medical reason (e.g., hysterectomy, as told by a doctor) or last period greater than 6 months for women that are not postpartum.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Family Planning Intervention
- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Intervention
Treatment groups
Sponsors and collaborators
Boston College
Lead sponsor
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Collaborator
San Diego State University
Collaborator
Yale University
Collaborator
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Collaborator
Makerere University
Collaborator