Hirani 2010.
| Study characteristics | |
| Methods |
Study design: cluster‐RCT Duration of study: the study was conducted between 2000‐2004. Country: Pakistan Income classification: low‐income country in 2000‐2004 Geographical scope: urban (inner‐city slum area of Karachi [Pakistan], a sprawling metropolis of 18 million residents located on the Arabian Sea) Healthcare setting: adult literacy centers (ACLs) |
| Participants | 1. Age: 25‐35 years 2. Gender: female 3. Socioeconomic background: economically disadvantaged women. Household size was 6‐10 people for most women, and monthly household income averaged US$55.00. 4. Educational background: most women reported < 4 years of formal education, and most women were not employed. Inclusion criteria: a. women in adult literacy programmes in each of the randomly chosen clusters were recruited into the study; with b. age range 25‐35 years. Exclusion criteria: not specified. Note: considerations on baseline scores not applicable for this study Stated purpose: to provide an evidence‐based intervention to address the primary health problems confronting women in Pakistan and worldwide: depression and violence. Specifically, we tested the differential effectiveness of a community‐derived intervention of ESB, developed through community‐based participatory methods against an evidence‐based empirically tested counselling model. |
| Interventions |
Name: group counselling intervention Title/name of PW and number: community health workers (number not specified) 1. Selection: not specified 2. Educational background: not specified 3. Training: 21 hours training, included skill‐building on components of the intervention as well as research ethics of privacy and confidentiality 4. Supervision: not specified 5. Incentives/remuneration: not specified Prevention type: selective—participants were included based upon the presence of a risk factor (economic disadvantage). Intervention details Group counselling: 8 weekly sessions at the ALCs; the key components of the module included stress and anger management, effective communication, active listening, and supportive problem‐solving. ESB intervention: 8 weekly sessions at the ALCs; the key topics covered were skills for employment attainment and retention such as effective communication, balancing personal and work life and time management, conflict resolution, dealing with abuse and harassment, enhancing self‐efficacy, effective parenting, and personal hygiene and grooming. Control: usual care – the control group received no additional services. |
| Outcomes |
Participants’outcomes of interest for this review
Note: we included data from the group counselling intervention and control group. Carers’ outcomes of interest for this review Nil Economic outcomes Nil Time points: baseline, post‐intervention (< 1 month) |
| Notes |
Source of funding: Aga Khan University Research Council Notes on validation of instruments (screening and outcomes): BDI‐II, GSE and IPV instruments validated internationally but not mentioned if validated in a Pakistani context Additional information: none Handling the data: not applicable Prospective trial registration number: not specified |