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Mental Health in Communities Affected by COVID-19 in Uganda

NCT04616989 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 814

Last updated 2021-06-02

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Introduction: During pandemics like the COVID-19, a significant number of the populace suffer from psychological distress (PD) that often abates naturally over time in the majority of people but persists in others to become pervasive and severe enough to trigger the onset of common mental disorders (CMD) like major depressive disorders (MDD), generalized anxiety disorders (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and substance misuse disorders (SUD). Once identified, psychological distress as well as CMD can be managed using psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy. However, low levels of mental health literacy (MHL) manifested by the individual's unawareness of CMD symptoms, limited human and mental health infrastructure resources and high levels of mental illness stigma (MIS), are barriers to integration of mental health care in general health care during pandemics and epidemics such as the COVID-19.

The study objectives will include: (a) Documenting MHL, PD, MDD, GAD, PTSD and SUD levels in the study population, (b) Determining the effectiveness of a psycho-education intervention delivered by village health team (VHT) members on study outcomes

Methods: We shall employ an open label cluster-randomized trial design, with each village as a cluster, to conduct the study in 24 villages (12 intervention and 12 control villages) in Kampala (n= 15), Wakiso (n= 3), Masaka (n= 2) and Mukono (n= 4) districts. To ensure balance between the two study arms, villages underwent stratified randomization on the basis of rural vs urban population. The second level of stratification will be achieved by a separate randomization procedure performed within each stratum to ensure gender balance within each cluster

We will develop information education and communication materials (IEC) aimed at improving MHL and reducing MIS. In the intervention arm (n=12 villages), VHTs will distribute the IEC materials in every 12th household till they accrue 420 individuals (adults ≥ 18 years old) who express interest in participating in the study. In the control arm (n=12 villages), VHTs will distribute MOH COVID-19 information leaflets in every 12th household till they accrue 420 individuals who express interest in participating in the study. Within 7days after distribution of the materials, trained research assistants will schedule and assess participants (through a phone interview) for MHL, PD, MDD, GAD, PTSD and SUD. Individuals who don't have phones will be asked to provide a phone number of a friend or relative through which the interviews can be conducted; interviews could also be conducted using the VHTs' phone. Cost data will be collected using available implementation data. We will document the number of individuals from both arms who will contact the investigators

Data analysis plans: We will (a) report frequencies and percentages and their 95% confidence intervals for the first objective, (b) use an intention to treat analysis to analyze the second objective,

Conclusion: Findings from this research will guide policy and practice regarding the integration of mental health services in the community in the context of epidemic preparedness and response.

Conditions

  • Community Mental Health

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Psycho-education

Provide psycho-education to members of the community

BEHAVIORAL

Comparator

Distribution of COVID-19 leaflets to members of the community

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Makerere University

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2020-11-01
Primary Completion
2021-01-30
Completion
2021-01-30

Countries

  • Uganda

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT04616989 on ClinicalTrials.gov