Psychological treatments delivered by community health workers in low-resource government health systems: effectiveness of group interpersonal psychotherapy for caregivers of children affected by nodding syndrome in Uganda
| dc.contributor.author | Mutamba, Byamah B. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kane, Jeremy C. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Okello, James | |
| dc.contributor.author | Musisi, Seggane | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kohrt, Brandon A. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-03-19T13:38:11Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-03-19T13:38:11Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2018-02-15 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Despite increasing evidence for the benefits of psychological treatments (PTs) in low- and middle-income countries, few national health systems have adopted PTs as standard care. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a group interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT-G) intervention, when delivered by lay community health workers (LCHWs) in a low-resource government health system in Uganda. The intended outcome was reduction of depression among caregivers of children with nodding syndrome, a neuropsychiatric condition with high morbidity, mortality and social stigma. A non-randomized trial design was used. Caregivers in six villages (n = 69) received treatment as usual (TAU), according to government guidelines. Caregivers in seven villages (n = 73) received TAU as well as 12 sessions of IPT-G delivered by LCHWs. Primary outcomes were caregiver and child depression assessed at 1 and 6 months post-intervention. Caregivers who received IPT-G had a significantly greater reduction in the risk of depression from baseline to 1 month [risk ratio (RR) 0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.10–0.62] and 6 months (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.11–0.95) post-intervention compared with caregivers who received TAU. Children of caregivers who received IPT-G had significantly greater reduction in depression scores than children of TAU caregivers at 1 month (Cohen's d = 0.57, p = 0.01) and 6 months (Cohen's d = 0.54, p = 0.03). Significant effects were also observed for psychological distress, stigma and social support among caregivers. IPT-G delivered within a low-resource health system is an effective PT for common mental health problems in caregivers of children with a severe neuropsychiatric condition and has psychological benefits for the children as well. This supports national health policy initiatives to integrate PTs into primary health care services in Uganda. | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Mutamba, B. B., Kane, J. C., De Jong, J. T., Okello, J., Musisi, S., & Kohrt, B. A. (2018). Psychological treatments delivered by community health workers in low-resource government health systems: effectiveness of group interpersonal psychotherapy for caregivers of children affected by nodding syndrome in Uganda. Psychological Medicine, 48(15), 2573-2583. | |
| dc.identifier.other | https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291718000193 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/10165 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Psychological Medicine | |
| dc.title | Psychological treatments delivered by community health workers in low-resource government health systems: effectiveness of group interpersonal psychotherapy for caregivers of children affected by nodding syndrome in Uganda | |
| dc.type | Article |