Does poverty alleviation decrease depression symptoms in post-conflict settings? A cluster-randomized trial of microenterprise assistance in Northern Uganda
Background. By 2009, two decades of war and widespread displacement left the majority of the population of Northern Uganda impoverished. Methods. This study used a cluster-randomized design to test th...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S205442511500028X/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1827994802029854720 |
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| author | E. P. Green C. Blattman J. Jamison J. Annan |
| author_facet | E. P. Green C. Blattman J. Jamison J. Annan |
| author_sort | E. P. Green |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Background.
By 2009, two decades of war and widespread displacement left the majority of the population of Northern Uganda impoverished.
Methods.
This study used a cluster-randomized design to test the hypothesis that a poverty alleviation program would improve economic security and reduce symptoms of depression in a sample of mostly young women. Roughly 120 villages in Northern Uganda were invited to participate. Community committees were asked to identify the most vulnerable women (and some men) to participate. The implementing agency screened all proposed participants, and a total of 1800 were enrolled. Following a baseline survey, villages were randomized to a treatment or wait-list control group. Participants in treatment villages received training, start-up capital, and follow-up support. Participants, implementers, and data collectors were not blinded to treatment status.
Results.
Villages were randomized to the treatment group (60 villages with 896 participants) or the wait-list control group (60 villages with 904 participants) with an allocation ration of 1:1. All clusters participated in the intervention and were included in the analysis. The intent-to-treat analysis included 860 treatment participants and 866 control participants (4.1% attrition). Sixteen months after the program, monthly cash earnings doubled from UGX 22 523 to 51 124, non-household and non-farm businesses doubled, and cash savings roughly quadrupled. There was no measurable effect on a locally derived measure of symptoms of depression.
Conclusions.
Despite finding large increases in business, income, and savings among the treatment group, we do not find support for an indirect effect of poverty alleviation on symptoms of depression.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:46:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dbcb1ad039e54f30bb02a917d1323264 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-4251 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:46:38Z |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-dbcb1ad039e54f30bb02a917d13232642023-03-09T12:35:35ZengCambridge University PressCambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health2054-42512016-01-01310.1017/gmh.2015.28Does poverty alleviation decrease depression symptoms in post-conflict settings? A cluster-randomized trial of microenterprise assistance in Northern UgandaE. P. Green0C. Blattman1J. Jamison2J. Annan3Duke Global Health Institute, Box 90519, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USAColumbia University, School of International & Public Affairs (SIPA)Global Insights Initiative at the World BankInternational Rescue Committee Background. By 2009, two decades of war and widespread displacement left the majority of the population of Northern Uganda impoverished. Methods. This study used a cluster-randomized design to test the hypothesis that a poverty alleviation program would improve economic security and reduce symptoms of depression in a sample of mostly young women. Roughly 120 villages in Northern Uganda were invited to participate. Community committees were asked to identify the most vulnerable women (and some men) to participate. The implementing agency screened all proposed participants, and a total of 1800 were enrolled. Following a baseline survey, villages were randomized to a treatment or wait-list control group. Participants in treatment villages received training, start-up capital, and follow-up support. Participants, implementers, and data collectors were not blinded to treatment status. Results. Villages were randomized to the treatment group (60 villages with 896 participants) or the wait-list control group (60 villages with 904 participants) with an allocation ration of 1:1. All clusters participated in the intervention and were included in the analysis. The intent-to-treat analysis included 860 treatment participants and 866 control participants (4.1% attrition). Sixteen months after the program, monthly cash earnings doubled from UGX 22 523 to 51 124, non-household and non-farm businesses doubled, and cash savings roughly quadrupled. There was no measurable effect on a locally derived measure of symptoms of depression. Conclusions. Despite finding large increases in business, income, and savings among the treatment group, we do not find support for an indirect effect of poverty alleviation on symptoms of depression. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S205442511500028X/type/journal_articlePovertycash transfersAfricafield experimentdepression |
| spellingShingle | E. P. Green C. Blattman J. Jamison J. Annan Does poverty alleviation decrease depression symptoms in post-conflict settings? A cluster-randomized trial of microenterprise assistance in Northern Uganda Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health Poverty cash transfers Africa field experiment depression |
| title | Does poverty alleviation decrease depression symptoms in post-conflict settings? A cluster-randomized trial of microenterprise assistance in Northern Uganda |
| title_full | Does poverty alleviation decrease depression symptoms in post-conflict settings? A cluster-randomized trial of microenterprise assistance in Northern Uganda |
| title_fullStr | Does poverty alleviation decrease depression symptoms in post-conflict settings? A cluster-randomized trial of microenterprise assistance in Northern Uganda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does poverty alleviation decrease depression symptoms in post-conflict settings? A cluster-randomized trial of microenterprise assistance in Northern Uganda |
| title_short | Does poverty alleviation decrease depression symptoms in post-conflict settings? A cluster-randomized trial of microenterprise assistance in Northern Uganda |
| title_sort | does poverty alleviation decrease depression symptoms in post conflict settings a cluster randomized trial of microenterprise assistance in northern uganda |
| topic | Poverty cash transfers Africa field experiment depression |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S205442511500028X/type/journal_article |
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