Supplemental Material for Online Programs Improve Relationship Functioning for Distressed Low-Income Couples: Results From a Nationwide Randomized Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Relationship Functioning ◽  
Online Programs ◽  
Randomized Controlled

scholarly journals The ASHA (Hope) Project: Testing an Integrated Depression Treatment and Economic Strengthening Intervention in Rural Bangladesh: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 279
Author(s):  
Alison Karasz ◽  
Shabnam Anne ◽  
Jena Derakhshani Hamadani ◽  
Fahmida Tofail
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cash Transfer ◽  
Depression Treatment ◽  
Rural Bangladesh ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Low Income Women ◽  
Economic Strengthening ◽  
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Depression, a debilitating disorder, is highly prevalent among low-income women in low- and middle-income countries. Standard psychotherapeutic approaches may be helpful, but low treatment uptake, low retention, and transient treatment effects reduce the benefit of therapy. This pilot randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness and feasibility of an integrated depression treatment/economic strengthening intervention. The study took place in two villages in the Sirajganj district in rural Bangladesh. Forty-eight low-income women with depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score ≥ 10) were recruited and randomized to intervention or control arms. The intervention included a six-month group-based, fortnightly depression management and financial literacy intervention, which was followed by a cash-transfer of $186 (equivalent to the cost of two goats) at 12 months’ follow-up. The cash transfer could be used to purchase a productive asset (e.g., agricultural animals). The control arm received no intervention. Findings showed significant reduction in depression scores in the intervention group. The mean PHQ-9 score decreased from 14.5 to 5.5 (B ± SE, −9.2 ± 0.8 95% CI −10.9, −7.5, p < 0.01) compared to no change in the control group. Most other psycho-social outcomes, including tension, self-esteem, hope, social-support, and participation in household economic decision-making, also improved with intervention. An integrated depression treatment and financial empowerment intervention was found to be highly effective among rural low-income women with depression. Next steps involve formal testing of the model in a larger trial.

scholarly journals Digital support systems to improve child health and development in low income settings

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Wallenborn ◽  
D Mäusezahl ◽  
A Castellanos ◽  
D McCoy ◽  
C e Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Child Health ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Primary Study ◽  
Developmental Potential ◽  
Digital Platform ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Health And Development

Abstract About 250 million children under age five are at risk of not reaching their developmental potential due to continued exposure to ill health, malnutrition and lack of appropriate learning environments. A large number of initiatives have been launched in recent years to support early childhood development, with home visiting programs increasingly being recognized as a key strategy for improving child wellbeing. However, the most effective ways to reach families in low income settings remain unclear due to the large expense associated with personal family visits. In this project, we assess the effectiveness and equity of a newly developed digital platform designed to deliver evidence-based, individualized parenting support through automated services. The Afinidata platform uses state-of-the art machine learning algorithms to allow caregivers to get answers to questions about child health and development, while also identifying and promoting age- and development-appropriate activities for parents to support their children. We will collaborate with partners in Peru to rigorously assess the reach, impact and cost effectiveness of this digital platform in a poor rural population through a randomized controlled trial. Our work will follow a mixed-methods evaluation approach with repeated feedback into the Afinidata system. A total of 2,400 newborns will be enrolled in a randomized controlled trial in San Marcos, Peru, and followed up for two years. The primary study outcome will be children's healthy development at 24 months of age assessed through the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III). Secondary outcomes will be systems utilization, program coverage and cost-effectiveness, as well as caregiver satisfaction. If proven effective, this innovative digital platform may increase global access to low-cost parental support -a widely recognized key strategy for improving child well-being.

scholarly journals Nutritional support for lactating women with or without Azithromycin for infants compared to breast-feeding counselling alone, to improve six-month growth outcomes among infants of peri-urban slums of Karachi, Pakistan – a protocol of multi-arm assessor blinded randomized controlled trial (Mumta LW trial)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ameer Muhammad ◽  
Yasir Shafiq ◽  
M Imran Nisar ◽  
Benazir Baloch ◽  
Amna Tanweer Yazdani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Relative Length ◽  
Trial Registration ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Lactating Women ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract BackgroundGlobally, 45% of under-five deaths are, directly or indirectly, attributable to malnutrition, most of these deaths are in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Children in the first 6 months of life are particularly vulnerable. An estimated 4.7 million infants under the age of 6 months are moderately wasted whereas 3.8 million are severely wasted. Despite the increased risk to a child of a mother with nutritional decompensation, there are discrepancies in guidance in this area. MethodsThis is a community-based, open-label factorial randomized controlled trial, using parallel assignment with 1:1:1 allocation ratio, in low-income squatter settlements of urban Karachi, Pakistan. In the control group (Arm A), women are randomized to standard counseling only; whereas in the first intervention group (Arm B), lactating women receive two sachets of balanced energy-protein (BEP) supplementation per day from enrollment till the infant reaches six months of age, in the second intervention group (Arm C), lactating women receive same BEP as in intervention Arm B while their babies also receive a single stat dose (20mg/kg orally) of azithromycin at 42 days. The primary outcome is relative length velocity from 0 to 6 months by the limb of allocation. The primary analysis will be Intention-to-treat analysisTrial registrationRegistration of the trial is done at ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT03564652, registered on June 21, 2018. Trial registration data is available through https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03564652

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