Poverty
Conditions
Keywords
economic empowerment model, orphans, sub-Saharan Africa
Brief summary
This study examines an economic empowerment model of care and support for orphaned adolescents in rural Uganda. The Suubi intervention focuses on economic empowerment of families caring for orphaned youths. It attempts to address the health risks and poor educational achievements resulting from poverty and limited options.
Detailed description
The AIDS epidemic and a 20-year civil war have had a devastating impact on Uganda. The events have led to population displacement, worsening living conditions, exacerbation of poverty, and disruption of already weakened social service systems. As implemented, the Suubi Project goes considerably beyond the usual care, which primarily consists of institutionalization and reactive strategies (involving food and material aid). Specifically, the intervention promotes children's savings accounts, also known as children development accounts, for postprimary education and microenterprise development (i.e., development of small income-generating businesses). The Suubi intervention is grounded in asset theory (Sherraden 1990, 1991), which holds that assets (e.g., savings, educational opportunities, and economic opportunities in the form of income-generating activities or microenterprises) have important economic, social, and psychological benefits for individuals and families. Asset building is increasingly viewed as a critical factor for reducing poverty, improving psychosocial functioning, and positively affecting attitudes and behaviors.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALChildren's development account
Children in the experimental condition (the SUUBI program) received, in addition to the usual care, an economic empowerment intervention aimed at promoting asset accumulation for families-and consisting of three major components: 1) workshops focused on asset-building and future planning; 2) a monthly mentorship program for adolescents with peer mentors on life options; and 3) a Child Development Account (CDA), dedicated to paying for secondary schooling, vocational training and/or a family small business. The CDAs were matched savings accounts, with a match rate of 2:1 as an incentive for participants to save, but with a limit on the maximum savings that could be matched (the match cap, in this case, was equivalent to $10 a month).
Sponsors
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Columbia University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
11 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* an orphaned child, defined as a child who has lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS; enrolled in primary school (even though possibly not attending regularly); between the ages of 12 to 15 years.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Savings and asset-accumulation | baseline, 10-month and 20-month post-intervention | past experience, current savings, and attitudes toward saving |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual risk taking | baseline, 10-month and 20-month post-intervention | Sexual risk taking behavior (history and onset of sexual intercourse), Intentions to engage in sexual risk behaviors |
| Educational outcomes | baseline, 10-month, and 20-month post-intervention | School enrollment, School attendance, School grades, Educational aspirations |
| Mental health | baseline, 10-month and 20-month post-intervention | Self-esteem, depression, hopelessness, helplessness |
| Social and family support | baseline, 10-month and 20-month post-intervention | Emotional support from caregivers, practical assistance, financial assistance and advice/guidance, and family communication |
Countries
Uganda
Outcome results
None listed