Helping young women reduce pregnancy and health risks through counseling

Plain-English translation of NCT05368571 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated June 2025 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

CHOICES-TEEN is a counseling program designed to help teenage girls (ages 14–19) reduce their risk of pregnancy, alcohol and marijuana use, and sexually transmitted infections. The program uses motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioral counseling — evidence-based techniques that help people identify their own reasons for making positive changes. Participants receive four sessions with a trained counselor and medicine specialist, combining one in-person visit with three telehealth sessions.

Young women involved in the juvenile justice system face elevated risks of unplanned pregnancies exposed to substances and sexually transmitted infections. This trial exists to test whether a focused counseling intervention can effectively help these young women make safer choices around substance use and sexual health.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are female and between 14 and 19 years old
you are enrolled in the Harris County Juvenile Probation system
you have had sexual intercourse with a male in the past three months
you have not consistently used condoms in the past three months
you have not consistently used contraception in the past three months
you speak, read, and write English

You likely don't qualify if…

you have severe cognitive or mental health problems that would make it hard to participate in the study
you are unable to attend follow-up appointments at 3, 6, and 9 months
you do not speak or read and write in English
you have a severe psychiatric condition that prevents you from cooperating with the study plan

What participation looks like

If you join this study, you will be randomly assigned to either receive the CHOICES-TEEN counseling program or a general life skills education program (both consist of four sessions). Your first session will be in person, and the remaining three will be by video call. You will also complete brief assessments about your health and behaviors at the start of the study and again at 3, 6, and 9 months after enrolling. The entire process takes place over nine months.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 17, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

United States

Baylor University, Houston, Texas