Effect of a Randomized Controlled Trial of Housing Vouchers on Adolescent Risky Sexual Behavior Over a 15-Year Period.
Arch Sex Behav
; 53(2): 457-469, 2024 02.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38167990
ABSTRACT
We examined whether a housing voucher intervention influenced adolescent risky sexual behavior (RSB) across 15 years in the Moving to Opportunity Study. Low-income families in public housing that resided in 5 cities were randomized to one of three treatment groups a housing voucher to move to low-poverty neighborhoods (i.e., < 10% poverty rate), a Sect. 8 voucher but no housing relocation counseling, or a control group that could remain in public housing. Youth and their caregivers completed baseline surveys, as well as two uniform follow-ups interim (2001-2002; 4-7 years after baseline) and final (2008-2010; 10-15 years after baseline). Approximately 4,600 adolescents (50.5% female) aged 13-20 years participated at the final timepoint. Adolescents reported on their RSB, including condom use, other contraceptive use, early sexual initiation (< 15 years old), and 2+ sexual partners in the past year. We modeled each indicator separately and as part of a composite index. We tested baseline health vulnerabilities as potential effect modifiers. The low-poverty voucher group and the Sect. 8 voucher group were combined due to homogeneity of their effects. Applying intent-to-treat (ITT) regression analyses, we found no significant main effects of voucher receipt (vs. control) on any RSB. However, we found protective effects of voucher receipt on RSB among youth with health problems that limited activity, and youth < 7 at baseline but adverse effects among females, youth > 7 at baseline, and youth who were suspended/expelled from school. Results highlight the importance of understanding how housing interventions differentially influence adolescent health and behaviors.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Adolescent Behavior
/
Housing
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Etiology_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Arch Sex Behav
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Estados Unidos