Prof Maria Lohan presented the results of the Jack Trial at the 26th Congress of the World Association for Sexual Health in November 2023, highlighting four key messages for those building evidence on comprehensive sexuality education (CSE):

The Jack Trial: 

1. Was the first RCT of gender-transformative male engagement CSE

• We developed and tested If I Were Jack (www.ifIwerejack.com)
• The Jack trial focused especially on male-engagement gender-transformative CSE
• Girls and boys in the intervention arm had significantly increased support for gender-equitable masculinities

2. Was a large RCT involving 8,000+ adolescents aged 14-15 years in 64 schools in the UK

• The trial demonstrated that the intervention led to:
  • increased use of reliable contraceptives once young people are sexually active (boys and girls)
  • no increase in sexual initiation
  • increased sexual health knowledge and intentions to have safe, consensual relationships (even up to one year later)

3. Demonstrated that CSE is cost-effective

• The trial demonstrated that over a 20-year period, the intervention would
  • result in fewer unintended pregnancies and STIs
  • result in a gain quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)
  • result in a delivery cost of £5 per pupil

4. Supports evidence of co-designed CSE with young people

• The If I Were Jack programme was 
  • co-designed with adolescents, teachers, parents and CSE policymakers
  • delivered in faith-based and non-faith-based schools

[You can download a copy of this infographic by clicking on the PDF below:]