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Austrian K, Maluccio JA, Soler-Hampejsek E, Muluve E, Aden A, Wado YD, Abuya B, Kangwana B. Long-term impacts of a cash plus program on marriage, fertility, and education after six years in pastoralist Kenya: A cluster randomized trial. SSM Popul Health 2024; 26:101663. [PMID: 38577063 PMCID: PMC10992718 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2024.101663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Preventing early marriage by increasing girls education has shown promise. We assessed the effects of a two-year cash plus program on marriage and fertility in a pastoralist setting in Northeastern Kenya, six years after it began. Methods A prospective 80-cluster randomized trial followed 2,147 girls 11-14 years old starting in 2015, re-interviewing 94.2% in 2021. Interventions included community dialogues (violence prevention), a conditional cash transfer (education), health and life skills training (health), and financial literacy (wealth creation). Villages were randomized to one of four study arms: (1) violence prevention only (V-only); (2) + education (VE); (3) + health (VEH); or (4) + wealth creation (VEHW). We used analysis of covariance to estimate intent-to-treat impacts of each study arm with an education component, as well as a pooled (weighted average) study arm combining VE, VEH and VEHW, in reference to V-only, four years after the intervention ended when girls were 17-20 years old. Findings Base specification estimates show reductions in the primary outcomes, though none statistically significant in the full sample. Estimates with extended controls are larger and the pooled study arm had significantly lower marriage and pregnancy. There are considerably larger statistically significant effects for the baseline out-ofschool subsample. Pooled estimates indicate 18.2 percentage point lower marriage compared to V-only and 15.1 percentage point lower pregnancy. For the same group pooled estimates indicate a 27.9 percentage point increase in current enrollment (compared to 7.1% in V-only) and a 1.8 grades increase (compared to 1.2 in V-only). Conclusion This study shows the potential for interventions in early adolescence with an education component to delay marriage and fertility into late adolescence and early adulthood in a marginalized and socially conservative setting with low education and high rates of child marriage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Austrian
- GIRL Center, Population Council, PO Box 17643-00500, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - John A. Maluccio
- Department of Economics, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, USA
| | | | - Eva Muluve
- Population Council – Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | - Benta Abuya
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
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Kangwana B, Mutahi J, Kumar M. Experiences of integrating a psychological intervention into a youth-led empowerment program targeting out-of-school adolescents, in urban informal settlements in Kenya: A qualitative study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300463. [PMID: 38568988 PMCID: PMC10990221 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are the leading causes of illness and disability in adolescents. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of integrating mental health services into a youth-led community-based intervention targeting out-of-school adolescents, residing in Kariobangi and Rhonda informal settlements in Kenya. METHOD Youth mentors were trained on the Bridging the Gaps (BTG) curriculum that integrated a modified version of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Problem Management Plus (PM+) psychological intervention into a sexual health, life-skills and financial education curriculum. Community lay mentors facilitated 72 weekly group sessions for 469 adolescent boys and girls, augmented with five enhanced one-on-one treatment sessions for those displaying signs of psychological distress. Adolescents displaying severe signs of psychological distress were referred directly to a primary health facility or connected to specialist services. A qualitative survey took place between February and March 2022, around four months before the end of the program. In-depth interviews were carried out with 44 adolescents, 7 partners, 19 parents and 11 stakeholders. Four focus group discussions were carried out with 17 mentors. Respondents were purposively selected to be interviewed based on their level of exposure to the intervention and ability to provide in-depth experiences. Themes focused on the program's perceived effectiveness, ability to develop the capacity of lay mentors to address mental health issues, and increased access to mental health services. RESULTS Adolescents reported that the intervention was able to improve their confidence in speaking up about their problems, equip them with essential first-aid skills to manage and treat anxiety or mild depression, provide them access to free one-on-one psychological help sessions, and increase their social network. Mentors were able to adhere to the core principles of psychological intervention delivery, providing preventative and treatment-focused psychosocial services. Furthermore, parents reported experiencing improved adolescent receptivity to parental suggestions or advice leading to improved parent-adolescent relationships. Mentors referred adolescents for a variety of reasons including severe mental illness, rape, and alcohol and substance use however, the high cost of transport was the main barrier limiting adolescents from following through with their referrals. CONCLUSION The findings demonstrate that integration of mental health services into community-based interventions is feasible and has benefits for adolescents, parents, and mentors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joan Mutahi
- Institute for Excellence in Health Equity, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, NY, NY, United States of America
| | - Manasi Kumar
- Institute for Excellence in Health Equity, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, NY, NY, United States of America
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Rogers K, Le Kirkegaard R, Wamoyi J, Grooms K, Essajee S, Palermo T. Systematic review of cash plus or bundled interventions targeting adolescents in Africa to reduce HIV risk. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:239. [PMID: 38245689 PMCID: PMC10799364 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17565-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV remains a leading cause of death for adolescents and young people aged 10-24 years. HIV prevention requires multisectoral approaches that target adolescents and young people, addressing HIV risk pathways (e.g., transactional sex, gender-based violence, and school attendance) through bundled interventions that combine economic strengthening, health capabilities, and gender equality education. However, best practices are unknown because evidence on multisectoral programming targeted to adolescents and combining these components has not been systematically reviewed. METHODS We conducted a systematic review to summarize the evidence on bundled interventions combining health and economic strengthening components for adolescents and young people and their effects on HIV/STI incidence and risk factors. We included studies from Africa published between 2005 and 2023, combining at least one economic strengthening and one health component, directed toward adolescents and young people aged 10-24 years. Included studies measured programmatic impacts on primary outcomes: HIV and STI incidence/prevalence; and mediators as secondary outcomes: sexual behaviours, sexual and reproductive health, school attendance, health-seeking behaviours, and violence. We conducted key word searches in PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science, imported titles/abstracts from the initial search, and reviewed them using the inclusion criteria. Full texts of selected articles were reviewed and information was extracted for analysis. Findings from the full texts identified were summarized. RESULTS We reviewed 58 studies, including 43 quantitative studies and 15 qualitative studies, evaluating 26 unique interventions. A majority of studies reviewed were conducted in Eastern and Southern Africa. Interventions reviewed showed a greater number of significant results in improving economic outcomes; mental health and psychosocial outcomes; sexual and reproductive health knowledge and services utilization; and HIV prevention knowledge and testing. They showed fewer significant results in improving outcomes related to HIV incidence/prevalence; sexual risk behaviours; gender-based violence; gender attitudes; education; STI incidence, prevalence and testing; and sexual debut. CONCLUSIONS Our review demonstrated the potential for bundled, multisectoral interventions for preventing HIV and facilitating safe transitions to adulthood. Findings have implications for designing HIV sensitive programmes on a larger scale, including how interventions may need to address multiple strata of the social ecological model to achieve success in the prevention of HIV and related pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Rogers
- Policy Research Solutions LLC and University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
| | | | - Joyce Wamoyi
- National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Kaley Grooms
- Policy Research Solutions LLC and University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | | | - Tia Palermo
- Policy Research Solutions LLC and University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
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Prencipe L, Houweling TAJ, van Lenthe FJ, Kajula L, Palermo T. Climate distress, climate-sensitive risk factors, and mental health among Tanzanian youth: a cross-sectional study. Lancet Planet Health 2023; 7:e877-e887. [PMID: 37940208 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(23)00234-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Climate change threatens youth mental health through multiple mechanisms, yet empirical studies typically focus on single pathways. We explored feelings of distress over climate change among Tanzanian youth, considering associations with climate change awareness and climate-sensitive risk factors, and assessed how these factors relate to mental health. METHODS Tanzanian youth (aged 18-23 years) from a cluster randomised controlled trial in Mbeya and Iringa regions of Tanzania were interviewed between Jan 25, and March 3, 2021, and included in this cross-sectional study. A threshold of at least 10 on the ten-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale was used to classify symptom severity indicative of depression. Regardless of climate change awareness, respondents were asked about their feelings of distress on climate change using inclusive language (changing weather patterns or changing seasons). We estimated rate differences in climate change distress (slight or moderate or extreme vs none) by youth characteristics, extent of climate awareness, and climate-sensitive livelihoods (eg, agriculture, tending livestock) and climate-sensitive living conditions (eg, food or water insecurity), using generalised linear models. We compared depression prevalence by extent of climate change distress and climate-sensitive living conditions. FINDINGS Among 2053 youth (1123 [55%] were male and 930 [45%] were female) included in this analysis, 946 (46%) had reported any distress about climate change. Distress was higher among female, more educated, more religious, older youth, and those working in extreme temperatures. Adjusting for climate awareness-a factor strongly associated with climate distress-helped to explain some of these associations. Depression was 23 percentage points (95% CI 17-28) higher among youth who had severe water insecurity than those who did not. Similarly, youth who had severe food insecurity had 23 percentage points higher depression (95% CI 17-28) compared with those who did not. Those reporting climate change distress also had worse mental health-extremely distressed youth had 18 percentage points (95% CI 6-30) higher depression than those reporting none. INTERPRETATION Living in conditions worsened by climate change and feeling distressed over climate change have mental health implications among young people from low-resource settings, indicating that climate change can impact youth mental health through multiple pathways. FUNDING Erasmus Trustfonds, Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research, UK's Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, Oak Foundation, UNICEF, UK's Department of International Development, the Swedish Development Cooperation Agency, Irish Aid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Prencipe
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Tanja A J Houweling
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Frank J van Lenthe
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Lusajo Kajula
- UNICEF Office of Research-Innocenti, Florence, Italy
| | - Tia Palermo
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
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Yoshino CA, Sidney-Annerstedt K, Wingfield T, Kirubi B, Viney K, Boccia D, Atkins S. Experiences of conditional and unconditional cash transfers intended for improving health outcomes and health service use: a qualitative evidence synthesis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023; 3:CD013635. [PMID: 36999604 PMCID: PMC10064639 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd013635.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is well known that poverty is associated with ill health and that ill health can result in direct and indirect costs that can perpetuate poverty. Social protection, which includes policies and programmes intended to prevent and reduce poverty in times of ill health, could be one way to break this vicious cycle. Social protection, particularly cash transfers, also has the potential to promote healthier behaviours, including healthcare seeking. Although social protection, particularly conditional and unconditional cash transfers, has been widely studied, it is not well known how recipients experience social protection interventions, and what unintended effects such interventions can cause. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this review was to explore how conditional and unconditional cash transfer social protection interventions with a health outcome are experienced and perceived by their recipients. SEARCH METHODS: We searched Epistemonikos, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Social Services Abstracts, Global Index Medicus, Scopus, AnthroSource and EconLit from the start of the database to 5 June 2020. We combined this with reference checking, citation searching, grey literature and contact with authors to identify additional studies. We reran all strategies in July 2022, and the new studies are awaiting classification. SELECTION CRITERIA We included primary studies, using qualitative methods or mixed-methods studies with qualitative research reporting on recipients' experiences of cash transfer interventions where health outcomes were evaluated. Recipients could be adult patients of healthcare services, the general adult population as recipients of cash targeted at themselves or directed at children. Studies could be evaluated on any mental or physical health condition or cash transfer mechanism. Studies could come from any country and be in any language. Two authors independently selected studies. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used a multi-step purposive sampling framework for selecting studies, starting with geographical representation, followed by health condition, and richness of data. Key data were extracted by the authors into Excel. Methodological limitations were assessed independently using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) criteria by two authors. Data were synthesised using meta-ethnography, and confidence in findings was assessed using the Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research (GRADE-CERQual) approach. MAIN RESULTS: We included 127 studies in the review and sampled 41 of these studies for our analysis. Thirty-two further studies were found after the updated search on 5 July 2022 and are awaiting classification. The sampled studies were from 24 different countries: 17 studies were from the African region, seven were from the region of the Americas, seven were from the European region, six were from the South-East Asian region, three from the Western Pacific region and one study was multiregional, covering both the African and the Eastern Mediterranean regions. These studies primarily explored the views and experiences of cash transfer recipients with different health conditions, such as infectious diseases, disabilities and long-term illnesses, sexual and reproductive health, and maternal and child health. Our GRADE-CERQual assessment indicated we had mainly moderate- and high-confidence findings. We found that recipients perceived the cash transfers as necessary and helpful for immediate needs and, in some cases, helpful for longer-term benefits. However, across conditional and unconditional programmes, recipients often felt that the amount given was too little in relation to their total needs. They also felt that the cash alone was not enough to change their behaviour and, to change behaviour, additional types of support would be required. The cash transfer was reported to have important effects on empowerment, autonomy and agency, but also in some settings, recipients experienced pressure from family or programme staff on cash usage. The cash transfer was reported to improve social cohesion and reduce intrahousehold tension. However, in settings where some received the cash and others did not, the lack of an equal approach caused tension, suspicion and conflict. Recipients also reported stigma in terms of cash transfer programme assessment processes and eligibility, as well as inappropriate eligibility processes. Across settings, recipients experienced barriers in accessing the cash transfer programme, and some refused or were hesitant to receive the cash. Some recipients found cash transfer programmes more acceptable when they agreed with the programme's goals and processes. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the impact of the sociocultural context on the functioning and interaction between the individual, family and cash transfer programmes. Even where the goals of a cash transfer programme are explicitly health-related, the outcomes may be far broader than health alone and may include, for example, reduced stigma, empowerment and increased agency of the individual. When measuring programme outcomes, therefore, these broader impacts could be considered for understanding the health and well-being benefits of cash transfers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara A Yoshino
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Tuberculosis and Social Medicine, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kristi Sidney-Annerstedt
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Tuberculosis and Social Medicine, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tom Wingfield
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Tuberculosis and Social Medicine, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Clinical Infection, Microbiology, and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Department of Clinical Sciences and International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
- Tropical and Infectious Disease Unit, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Beatrice Kirubi
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Tuberculosis and Social Medicine, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Kerri Viney
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Delia Boccia
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Salla Atkins
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Tuberculosis and Social Medicine, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Global Health and Development, Health Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
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Burchett HED, Griffin S, de Melo M, Picardo JJ, Kneale D, French RS. Structural Interventions to Enable Adolescent Contraceptive Use in LMICs: A Mid-Range Theory to Support Intervention Development and Evaluation. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14414. [PMID: 36361287 PMCID: PMC9658296 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Enabling contraceptive use is critical for addressing high adolescent pregnancy rates in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Broader or 'upstream' determinants, such as poverty, education, and social norms, can affect the knowledge, attitudes, motivation, and ability to access and use contraception. Structural interventions aim to address these broader determinants, e.g., through poverty alleviation from livelihood training or cash transfers, increasing school participation, or changing social norms. We conducted an evidence synthesis using intervention component analysis, a case-based approach, following a systematic mapping of the evidence base. We identified 17 studies with 29 structural intervention arms, which reported adolescent contraceptive use outcomes compared to a control group or baseline. It was not possible to identify with certainty which interventions were 'likely effective' or 'likely ineffective' due to the high heterogeneity of the methods. We built on an existing framework of family planning use to propose three steps to designing interventions: (1) tailor interventions to adolescents' life stages; (2) assess the baseline situation; and (3) select appropriate activities to match the gaps. These steps will aid developers and evaluators of structural adolescent contraceptive interventions to develop an evidence base that is of use across a wide range of settings and use scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Elizabeth Denise Burchett
- Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK
| | - Sally Griffin
- International Center for Reproductive Health, Maputo 1100, Mozambique
| | - Málica de Melo
- International Center for Reproductive Health, Maputo 1100, Mozambique
| | | | - Dylan Kneale
- EPPI-Centre, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London WC1H 0NR, UK
| | - Rebecca S. French
- Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK
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Vijayaraghavan J, Vidyarthi A, Livesey A, Gittings L, Levy M, Timilsina A, Mullings D, Armstrong C. Strengthening adolescent agency for optimal health outcomes. BMJ 2022; 379:e069484. [PMID: 36302546 PMCID: PMC9600168 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2021-069484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Janani Vijayaraghavan and colleagues argue that agency and health are intimately connected; achieving best health outcomes for adolescents will require strengthening their agency
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lesley Gittings
- Centre for Social Science Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- School of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marcy Levy
- Unicef, Adolescent Development and Participation Section, New York
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Burchett HED, Kneale D, Griffin S, de Melo M, Picardo JJ, French RS. Which Structural Interventions for Adolescent Contraceptive Use Have Been Evaluated in Low- and Middle-Income Countries? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11715. [PMID: 36141987 PMCID: PMC9517431 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Reducing adolescent childbearing is a global priority, and enabling contraceptive use is one means of achieving this. Upstream factors, e.g., gender inequalities, fertility norms, poverty, empowerment and schooling, can be major factors affecting contraceptive use. We conducted a systematic map to understand which structural adolescent contraception interventions targeting these upstream factors have been evaluated in LMICs. We searched eight academic databases plus relevant websites and a 2016 evidence gap map and screened references based on set inclusion criteria. We screened 6993 references and included 40 unique intervention evaluations, reported in 138 papers. Seventeen evaluations were reported only in grey literature. Poverty reduction/economic empowerment interventions were the most common structural intervention, followed by interventions to increase schooling (e.g., through legislation or cash transfers) and those aiming to change social norms. Half of the evaluations were RCTs. There was variation in the timing of endline outcome data collection and the outcome measures used. A range of structural interventions have been evaluated for their effect on adolescent contraceptive use/pregnancy. These interventions, and their evaluations, are heterogenous in numerous ways. Improved understandings of how structural interventions work, as well as addressing evaluation challenges, are needed to facilitate progress in enabling adolescent contraceptive use in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Elizabeth Denise Burchett
- Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Dylan Kneale
- EPPI-Centre, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London WC1H 0NR, UK
| | - Sally Griffin
- International Center for Reproductive Health: Mozambique, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Málica de Melo
- International Center for Reproductive Health: Mozambique, Maputo, Mozambique
| | | | - Rebecca S. French
- Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
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Austrian K, Soler-Hampejsek E, Kangwana B, Maddox N, Diaw M, Wado YD, Abuya B, Muluve E, Mbushi F, Mohammed H, Aden A, Maluccio JA. Impacts of Multisectoral Cash Plus Programs on Marriage and Fertility After 4 Years in Pastoralist Kenya: A Randomized Trial. J Adolesc Health 2022; 70:885-894. [PMID: 35168885 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Early marriage has multiple drivers including cultural and social norms alongside lack of educational and economic opportunities. This complexity may explain why few programs have demonstrated marriage delays and suggests multisectoral interventions are necessary. This study examined a 2-year multisectoral program designed to delay marriage in a marginalized setting. METHODS The study used a prospective 80-cluster randomized trial following up 2,147 girls aged 11-14 years from 2015 to 2019. Interventions included community dialogs about inequitable gender norms (violence prevention), a conditional cash transfer (education), weekly group meetings with health and life skills training (health), and financial literacy training (wealth creation). Villages were randomized to one of four study arms: (1) violence prevention only (V-only); (2) violence prevention and education (VE); (3) VE and health (VEH); or (4) all four interventions (VEHW). We used analysis of covariance to estimate intent-to-treat impacts of each study arm with an education component, as well as a pooled study arm combining the VE, VEH, and VEHW arms, in reference to V-only, 2 years after the intervention ended, when girls were 15-18 years old. RESULTS There were small but insignificant reductions on primary outcomes in unadjusted analyses that were larger and significant in adjusted analyses. Effects were particularly large for girls not in school at baseline-the pooled study arm reduced marriage by 18.0 and pregnancy by 15.6 percentage points, a relative reduction of 34% and 43%, respectively. DISCUSSION The article demonstrates the potential for multisectoral interventions with education components to delay early marriage in an impoverished, socially conservative, pastoral setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Austrian
- Poverty, Gender and Youth Program, Population Council - Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | | | - Beth Kangwana
- Poverty, Gender and Youth Program, Population Council - Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Nicole Maddox
- Department of Social and Political Sciences, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
| | - Maryama Diaw
- Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Yohannes D Wado
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Benta Abuya
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Eva Muluve
- Poverty, Gender and Youth Program, Population Council - Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Faith Mbushi
- Poverty, Gender and Youth Program, Population Council - Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | - John A Maluccio
- Department of Economics, Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont
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10
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Wado YD, Austrian K, Abuya BA, Kangwana B, Maddox N, Kabiru CW. Exposure to violence, adverse life events and the mental health of adolescent girls in Nairobi slums. BMC Womens Health 2022; 22:156. [PMID: 35538470 PMCID: PMC9092809 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-022-01735-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mental health problems rank among the leading causes of disability among young people globally. Young people growing up in urban slums are exposed to adverse childhood experiences, violence, and other adversities. There is limited research on how exposure to violence and adverse life events influence adolescents' mental health in urban poor settings. This study examines the associations between exposure to violence, adverse life events and self-reported depression in the slums of Nairobi. METHODS This study draws on data collected from 2106 adolescent girls aged 12-19 years who were interviewed in the third wave of the Adolescent Girls Initiative Kenya (AGI-K). Mental health was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ 9). Frequency distributions, bivariate chi-squared analysis and multi-variate regression models were computed to identify factors that are independently associated with depression. RESULTS About 13.3% of girls had symptoms of depression based on PHQ 9, 22% reported physical or sexual violence in the past year and about 47% of girls reported exposure to adverse life events in the family in the past year. After adjusting for the effects of socio-demographic factors, exposure to physical violence (AOR = 2.926, 95% CI 2.175-3.936), sexual violence (AOR = 2.519, 95% CI 1.637-3.875), perception of neighborhood safety (AOR = 1.533, 95% CI 1.159-2.028) and experience of adverse life events (AOR = 1.326, 95% CI 1.002-1.753) were significantly associated with self-reported depression. The presence of social support moderated the relationship between violence and mental health by reducing the strength of the association between violence and mental health in this setting. CONCLUSION Given the magnitude of violence victimisation, adverse life events and depressive symptoms, there is a need to design interventions that reduce exposure to violence and provide psychosocial support to adolescents exposed to adverse events in urban slums in Nairobi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohannes Dibaba Wado
- African Population and Health Research Center, APHRC Campus, Manga Close, Off Kirawa Road, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | | | - Benta A Abuya
- African Population and Health Research Center, APHRC Campus, Manga Close, Off Kirawa Road, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | - Caroline W Kabiru
- African Population and Health Research Center, APHRC Campus, Manga Close, Off Kirawa Road, Nairobi, Kenya
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Kangwana B, Austrian K, Soler-Hampejsek E, Maddox N, Sapire RJ, Wado YD, Abuya B, Muluve E, Mbushi F, Koech J, Maluccio JA. Impacts of multisectoral cash plus programs after four years in an urban informal settlement: Adolescent Girls Initiative-Kenya (AGI-K) randomized trial. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262858. [PMID: 35130299 PMCID: PMC8820646 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The vast majority of adolescent births occur in low- and middle-income countries and are associated with negative outcomes for both the mother and her child. A multitude of risk factors may explain why few programs have been successful in delaying childbearing and suggest that multisectoral interventions may be necessary. This study examines the longer-term impact of a two-year (2015-17) multisectoral program on early sexual debut and fertility in an urban informal settlement in Kenya. METHODS The study used a randomized trial design, longitudinally following 2,075 girls 11-14 years old in 2015 until 2019. The interventions included community dialogues on unequal gender norms and their consequences (violence prevention), a conditional cash transfer (education), health and life skills training (health), and financial literacy training and savings activities (wealth). Girls were randomized to one of four study arms: 1) violence prevention only (V-only); 2) V-only and education (VE); 3) VE and health (VEH); or 4) all four interventions (VEHW). We used ANCOVA to estimate intent-to-treat (ITT) impacts of each study arm and of pooled study arms VE, VEH, and VEHW relative to the V-only arm, on primary outcomes of fertility and herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) infection, and secondary outcomes of education, health knowledge, and wealth creation. Post-hoc analysis was carried out on older girls who were 13-14-years-old at baseline. In 2018, in the VEHW arm, in-depth qualitative evaluation were carried out with adolescent girls, their parents, school staff, mentors, community conversation facilitators, and community gatekeepers. The trial is registered at ISRCTN: ISRCTN77455458. RESULTS At endline in the V-only study arm, 21.0 percent of girls reported having had sex, 7.7 percent having ever been pregnant and 6.6 percent having ever given birth, with higher rates for the older subsample at 32.5 percent, 11.8 percent, and 10.1 percent, respectively. In the full sample, ever having given birth was reduced by 2.3 percentage points (pp) in the VE and VEHW study arms, significant at 10 percent. For the older subsample there were larger and significant reductions in the percent ever having had sex (8.2 pp), HSV-2 prevalence (7.5 pp) and HSV-2 incidence (5.6 pp) in the VE arm. Two years after the end of the interventions, girls continued to have increased schooling, sexual and reproductive health knowledge, and improved financial savings behaviors. Qualitatively, respondents reported that girls were likely to have sex as a result of child sexual exploitation, peer pressure or influence from the media, as well as for sexual adventure and as a mark of maturity. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that multisectoral cash plus interventions targeting the community and household level, combined with interventions in the education, health, and wealth-creation sectors that directly target individual girls in early adolescence, generate protective factors against early pregnancy during adolescence. Such interventions, therefore, potentially have beneficial impacts on the longer-term health and economic outcomes of girls residing in impoverished settings. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN registry: ISRCTN77455458; https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN77455458.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth Kangwana
- Poverty, Gender and Youth Program, Population Council – Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Karen Austrian
- Poverty, Gender and Youth Program, Population Council – Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Nicole Maddox
- Department of Social and Political Sciences, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
| | - Rachel J. Sapire
- Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | | | - Benta Abuya
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Eva Muluve
- Poverty, Gender and Youth Program, Population Council – Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Faith Mbushi
- Poverty, Gender and Youth Program, Population Council – Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Joy Koech
- Population Services International, Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - John A. Maluccio
- Department of Economics, Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont, United States of America
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Sherr L, Cluver L, Desmond C, Dhaliwal M, Webb D, Aber JL. Accelerating achievement for Africa's adolescents - an innovative initiative. PSYCHOL HEALTH MED 2022; 27:1-13. [PMID: 36471485 DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2022.2147962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lorraine Sherr
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lucie Cluver
- Department of Social Policy & Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Chris Desmond
- Centre for Rural Health, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Mandeep Dhaliwal
- HIV and Health Group, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), New York, USA
| | - Douglas Webb
- Health and Innovative Financing, HIV and Health Group, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), New York, USA
| | - J Lawrence Aber
- Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University New York, NY, United States
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