REACH Youth Study | Beyond the Pill

REACH Youth: Reproductive Equity and Access in College Health

Can an intervention in community colleges support young people’s reproductive health and gender equity as they pursue higher education?

What are the goals of this study?

We are conducting a cluster randomized trial with our partners at University of Texas at Austin among community college students, ages 18-25, to test an intervention to increase contraceptive access and equity.

This research is guided by a social determinants of health framework, and we seek innovative solutions to support young people, many of whom face educational disadvantage, economic hardship, racism, and discrimination.

The intervention seeks to increase health and gender equity for these young people in a crucial stage in their life, as they move from adolescence to young adulthood.

What populations are being studied?

2,086 students have been recruited from community college sites in California and Texas, two of the most populous and racially and ethnically diverse states in the United States.
Participants were eligible if they were aged 18–25, assigned female at birth, spoke English, sexually active, and not desiring pregnancy.

What are the study methods?

The multiple-component intervention includes bringing together a network of surrounding community clinics to train providers in high-quality youth-friendly contraceptive care, as well as student education and a digital locator with information on local services.

Participants complete surveys at baseline, immediately after receiving education, every 3 months for 1 year, and every 6 months up to 5 years of follow-up for reproductive health, educational, and economic outcomes.

In May 2020, we added a series of items to each baseline and follow-up survey to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people’s sexual and reproductive health, health access, education, and economic well-being, and their access to telemedicine.

How is the community involved in this research?

We developed a Community Advisory Board and Youth Advisory Board and conducted interviews with students, staff, and faculty at participating colleges to integrate community feedback into the research process.