Impacts of El Camino on Latino Youth’s Sexual Health

A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Bibliographic Data

ID21650773
AuthorsKrystle McConnell (0000-0002-3420-2060, Towson University, Towson, MD, USA, corresponding author), Sahra Ibrahimi (0000-0002-6416-3867, Denison University, Granville, OH, USA), Martha Yumiseva (0009-0003-9306-7369, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA), Salwa Shan (University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA), Amy Lewin (0000-0002-1638-9853, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA)
Year2026
Volume53
Issue3
Pages249-259
Publication date2026-06-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Education & Behavior (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1090-1981 • E-ISSN: 1552-6127
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/10901981251375467
PMID41178411
OpenAlexW4415785727
LanguageEN
References cited28

Rates of unintended teen pregnancy remain high among Latino youth. This cluster randomized controlled trial evaluates the long-term impacts of El Camino, a sexual health education program for Latino youth based on the principles of positive youth development, on students’ sexual behavior and related outcomes. Sixty-eight classrooms ( n = 746 students, ninth to 12th grade) were randomly assigned to intervention (El Camino; 34 classrooms, n = 398) or control (standard curricula: 34 classrooms, n = 348) conditions across 11 schools in Maryland with large populations of Latino students. Classes were implemented in Spanish (75%) and English (25%). Sexual behavior outcomes and key behavior determinants were assessed using baseline and follow-up surveys administered approximately 10 months after program completion ( n = 377). An intent-to-treat analysis was conducted. For the overall sample, there were no significant differences between conditions on rates of penile-vaginal sex (ever or recent), sex without a condom, or sex without any method of contraception. In subgroup analyses of students who reported never having had sex at baseline ( n = 248), El Camino showed a statistically significant impact on reducing rates of sexual initiation ( p = .007) and sex without a condom ( p = .02). El Camino also showed significant favorable impacts on increased contraception and consent knowledge, increased awareness of birth control methods, and greater intention to use condoms if sexually active. Taken together, this randomized controlled trial of El Camino demonstrates favorable impacts on sexual behavioral precursors for all students and long-term sexual behavioral impacts among an important subsample of students

Cluster randomised controlled trial · Condom · Population · Randomized controlled trial · Reproductive health · Sexual behavior · Unintended pregnancy · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · School Health and Nursing Education · Sex work and related issues

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