An economic incentive package to support the wellbeing of caregivers of adolescents living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa: a feasibility study protocol for a pilot randomised trial
Abstract Background The mental and financial strain linked to unpaid caregiving has been amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. In sub-Saharan Africa, carers of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) are critical for maintenance of optimum HIV treatment outcomes. However, the ability of caregivers to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Pilot and Feasibility Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-023-01237-x |
| _version_ | 1797952662124101632 |
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| author | Stanley Carries Zibuyisile Mkhwanazi Lovemore Sigwadhi Mosa Moshabela Makandwe Nyirenda Jane Goudge Darshini Govindasamy |
| author_facet | Stanley Carries Zibuyisile Mkhwanazi Lovemore Sigwadhi Mosa Moshabela Makandwe Nyirenda Jane Goudge Darshini Govindasamy |
| author_sort | Stanley Carries |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The mental and financial strain linked to unpaid caregiving has been amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. In sub-Saharan Africa, carers of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) are critical for maintenance of optimum HIV treatment outcomes. However, the ability of caregivers to provide quality care to ALHIV is undermined by their ability to maintain their own wellbeing due to multiple factors (viz. poverty, stigma, lack of access to social support services) which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic incentives, such as cash incentives combined with SMS reminders, have been shown to improve wellbeing. However, there is a lack of preliminary evidence on the potential of economic incentives to promote caregiver wellbeing in this setting, particularly in the context of a pandemic. This protocol outlines the design of a parallel-group pilot randomised trial comparing the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an economic incentive package versus a control for improving caregiver wellbeing. Methods Caregivers of ALHIV will be recruited from public-sector HIV clinics in the south of the eThekwini municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the following groups: (i) the intervention group (n = 50) will receive three cash payments (of ZAR 350, approximately 23 USD), coupled with a positive wellbeing message over a 3-month period; (ii) the control group (n = 50) will receive a standard message encouraging linkage to health services. Participants will be interviewed at baseline and at endline (12 weeks) to collect socio-demographic, food insecurity, health status, mental health (stigma, depressive symptoms) and wellbeing data. The primary outcome measure, caregiver wellbeing, will be measured using the CarerQoL instrument. A qualitative study will be conducted alongside the main trial to understand participant views on participation in the trial and their feedback on study activities. Discussion This study will provide scientific direction for the design of a larger randomised controlled trial exploring the effects of an economic incentive for improving caregiver wellbeing. The feasibility of conducting study activities and delivering the intervention remotely in the context of a pandemic will also be provided. Trial registration PACTR202203585402090. Registry name: Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR); URL: https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/ ; Registration. date: 24 March 2022 (retrospectively registered); Date first participant enrolled: 03 November 2021 |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T22:51:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f71b129b3d274c778a13603083c02034 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-5784 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T22:51:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pilot and Feasibility Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-f71b129b3d274c778a13603083c020342023-01-15T12:04:39ZengBMCPilot and Feasibility Studies2055-57842023-01-019111110.1186/s40814-023-01237-xAn economic incentive package to support the wellbeing of caregivers of adolescents living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa: a feasibility study protocol for a pilot randomised trialStanley Carries0Zibuyisile Mkhwanazi1Lovemore Sigwadhi2Mosa Moshabela3Makandwe Nyirenda4Jane Goudge5Darshini Govindasamy6Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research CouncilHealth Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research CouncilBiostatistics Unit, Stellenbosch UniversitySchool of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-NatalSchool of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-NatalCentre for Health Policy, University of the WitwatersrandHealth Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research CouncilAbstract Background The mental and financial strain linked to unpaid caregiving has been amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. In sub-Saharan Africa, carers of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) are critical for maintenance of optimum HIV treatment outcomes. However, the ability of caregivers to provide quality care to ALHIV is undermined by their ability to maintain their own wellbeing due to multiple factors (viz. poverty, stigma, lack of access to social support services) which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic incentives, such as cash incentives combined with SMS reminders, have been shown to improve wellbeing. However, there is a lack of preliminary evidence on the potential of economic incentives to promote caregiver wellbeing in this setting, particularly in the context of a pandemic. This protocol outlines the design of a parallel-group pilot randomised trial comparing the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an economic incentive package versus a control for improving caregiver wellbeing. Methods Caregivers of ALHIV will be recruited from public-sector HIV clinics in the south of the eThekwini municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the following groups: (i) the intervention group (n = 50) will receive three cash payments (of ZAR 350, approximately 23 USD), coupled with a positive wellbeing message over a 3-month period; (ii) the control group (n = 50) will receive a standard message encouraging linkage to health services. Participants will be interviewed at baseline and at endline (12 weeks) to collect socio-demographic, food insecurity, health status, mental health (stigma, depressive symptoms) and wellbeing data. The primary outcome measure, caregiver wellbeing, will be measured using the CarerQoL instrument. A qualitative study will be conducted alongside the main trial to understand participant views on participation in the trial and their feedback on study activities. Discussion This study will provide scientific direction for the design of a larger randomised controlled trial exploring the effects of an economic incentive for improving caregiver wellbeing. The feasibility of conducting study activities and delivering the intervention remotely in the context of a pandemic will also be provided. Trial registration PACTR202203585402090. Registry name: Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR); URL: https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/ ; Registration. date: 24 March 2022 (retrospectively registered); Date first participant enrolled: 03 November 2021https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-023-01237-xCaregiversWellbeingHIV/AIDSEconomic incentivesMental healthCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | Stanley Carries Zibuyisile Mkhwanazi Lovemore Sigwadhi Mosa Moshabela Makandwe Nyirenda Jane Goudge Darshini Govindasamy An economic incentive package to support the wellbeing of caregivers of adolescents living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa: a feasibility study protocol for a pilot randomised trial Pilot and Feasibility Studies Caregivers Wellbeing HIV/AIDS Economic incentives Mental health COVID-19 |
| title | An economic incentive package to support the wellbeing of caregivers of adolescents living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa: a feasibility study protocol for a pilot randomised trial |
| title_full | An economic incentive package to support the wellbeing of caregivers of adolescents living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa: a feasibility study protocol for a pilot randomised trial |
| title_fullStr | An economic incentive package to support the wellbeing of caregivers of adolescents living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa: a feasibility study protocol for a pilot randomised trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | An economic incentive package to support the wellbeing of caregivers of adolescents living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa: a feasibility study protocol for a pilot randomised trial |
| title_short | An economic incentive package to support the wellbeing of caregivers of adolescents living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa: a feasibility study protocol for a pilot randomised trial |
| title_sort | economic incentive package to support the wellbeing of caregivers of adolescents living with hiv during the covid 19 pandemic in south africa a feasibility study protocol for a pilot randomised trial |
| topic | Caregivers Wellbeing HIV/AIDS Economic incentives Mental health COVID-19 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-023-01237-x |
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