Asset ownership and health and mental health functioning among AIDS-orphaned adolescents: Findings from a randomized clinical trial in rural Uganda

Abstract

This study evaluated an economic empowerment intervention designed to promote life options, health and mental health functioning among AIDS-orphaned adolescents in rural Uganda. The study used an experimental design in which adolescents (N=267) were randomly assigned to receive an economic empowerment intervention or usual care for orphaned children. The study measured mental health functioning using 20 items of the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS: 2)—a standardized measure for self-esteem—and measured overall health using a self-rated health measure. Data obtained at 10-month follow-up revealed significant positive effects of the economic empowerment intervention on adolescents’ self-rated health and mental health functioning. Additionally, health and mental health functioning were found to be positively associated with each other. The findings have implications for public policy and health programming for AIDS-orphaned adolescents.

A Systematic Review of Online Youth Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Interventions

“…Four studies were carried out in South Africa [60,61,63,64], one study was carried out in India [57], Honduras [58], Egypt [59] and Uganda [65][66][67][68]. All eight studies were published between 2006 and 2010.…”

“…Two studies evaluated the Intervention with Microfinance for AIDS and Gender Equity (IMAGE), a poverty-focused microfinance initiative for women that is combined with a 12-15 month gender and HIV education curriculum [63,64]. One study examined the effects of small individual loans and mentorship on health and mental health functioning of primary school children [65][66][67][68]. Five of the seven interventions were designed for young people aged 13+.…”

“…Two interventions provided parent training [58,61] and two interventions were designed specifically for females [59,63,64]. Five of the interventions were implemented by local trained community caregivers [59][60][61][63][64][65][66][67][68]. The Familias Fuertas intervention was implemented by a local nurse [58] and the multi-component school and community intervention in India was implemented by a team of social workers, psychologists and peer educators [57].…”

Promotion of mental health and prevention of mental disorders: priorities for implementation

“…Microcredit schemes, which combine microfinance and training interventions that promote essential life skills, asset building and resourcefulness, are more effective in terms of mental health benefits (44). There is encouraging evidence from initiatives such as the IMAGE intervention in South Africa, which combines training on gender issues and HIV with microfinance initiatives for women (45,46), and an economic empowerment initiative for AIDS orphaned children, which has also shown positive impacts on participants' selfesteem and reduced levels of depression (47). Microfinance interventions for young adults and women, which are cost-effective from both a societal and public health perspective, are recommended as a good practice.…”

Facilitators and Obstacles in Youth Saving: Perspectives from Ghana and Kenya

“…Defined as access to highquality and affordable financial services, financial inclusion is important for economic and social development and poverty reduction (Children and Youth Finance International 2012;World Bank 2014). A rapidly growing body of evidence demonstrates that financial inclusion for youth, particularly involvement in savings programs, is associated with a wide range of positive outcomes in areas such as health, education, social-emotional development, and financial well-being (Chowa et al 2013;Huang et al 2014;Ssewamala et al 2009). Having savings has been associated with greater income and assets, better reproductive and preventive health knowledge, improved physical and mental health, academic achievement, and performance in a number of studies in SubSaharan Africa (Child and Youth Finance International Research Working Group 2012; Sharma et al 2015).…”