58389
document
Family economic empowerment and mental health among AIDS-affected children living in AIDS-impacted communities : evidence from a randomised evaluation in southwestern Uganda . OBJECTIVE The authors examine whether an innovative family economic empowerment intervention addresses mental health functioning of AIDS-affected children in communities heavily impacted by HIV/AIDS in Uganda . METHODS A cluster randomised controlled trial consisting of two study arms , a treatment condition ( n=179 ) and a control condition ( n=118 ) , was used to examine the impact of the family economic empowerment intervention on children 's levels of hopelessness and depression . The intervention comprised matched children savings accounts , financial management workshops and mentorship . Data were collected at baseline and 12 months post-intervention . RESULTS Using multivariate analysis with several socioeconomic controls , the authors find that children in the treatment condition ( receiving the intervention ) report significant improvement in their mental health functioning . Specifically , the intervention reduces hopelessness and depression levels . On the other hand , children in the control condition ( not receiving the intervention ) report no changes on both measures . CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate that children with poor mental health functioning living in communities affected by HIV/AIDS may benefit from innovative family economic empowerment interventions . As measures of mental health functioning , both hopelessness and depression have long-term negative psychosocial and developmental impacts on children . These findings have implications for public health programmes intended for long-term care and support of children living in resource poor AIDS-impacted communities .
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Intervention_Educational
Family economic empowerment
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Intervention_Educational
family economic empowerment
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Intervention_Control
control condition
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Intervention_Educational
family economic empowerment intervention
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Intervention_Educational
matched children savings accounts , financial management workshops and mentorship .
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Outcome_Mental
mental health functioning .
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Outcome_Mental
hopelessness and depression levels .
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Outcome_Mental
hopelessness and depression