Evaluating an economic empowerment intervention to improving caregiver wellbeing post-COVID-19

Caregiver wellbeing plus (CWeL+) study: Strengthening the impact of South Africa’s COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant: A pilot randomised control trial evaluating a cash transfer plus gender transformative economic empowerment intervention to improve psychological wellbeing and gender equality among unpaid caregivers of children and adolescents living with HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Phase 3

Study type

Interventional

Source

PACTR

Registry ID

PACTR202311618532061

Enrollment

240

Registered

2023-11-21

Start date

2023-06-07

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-09-14

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

HIV/AIDS

Interventions

Cash transfer plus gender transformative economic empowerment sessions

Monthly cash transfers worth R350 for 6 months

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

Female

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Cluster: • A public sector HIV clinic within the eThekwini municipality Participant: • A female carer (18-58 years of age) caring for a CALHIV aged 5 to 19 years • A female carer (18-58 years of age) receiving child support grant • A caregiver who is currently not receiving the Social Relief of Distress government grant and meets the eligibility criteria for this grant • A caregiver who has access to a mobile phone • Caregiver who is able to provide verbal informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Cluster: • A public sector HIV-clinic currently participating in a mental health or GBV CRT Participant: • A caregiver who is not the primary caregiver of the CALHIV • A caregiver that will be aged 60 years by follow-up and will be receiving state pension or a caregiver receiving state pension at the time of enrolment • A caregiver who is currently receiving a Social Relief of Distress grant, is in full-time employment or whose household income is above average household poverty threshold • A caregiver who is unable to comprehend the nature of the study (during the information session) in either English or isiZulu • A caregiver currently experiencing suicidal ideation, intoxication, and requiring urgent medical attention

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
1.Psychological wellbeing- percentage change in caregiver wellbeing scores between baseline and endline the intervention versus control arm. 2. Depressive symptoms- percentage change in depressive symptom scores between baseline and endline in the intervention versus control arm 3.Intimate Partner Violence Difference in mean scores at end-line between intervention and control	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
• Gender attitudes- we will use the 10-item Gender Role’s Belief scale that measure individual perceptions about gender roles (Brown and Gladstone, 2012). • Gender equality index- examines self-perceived gender equality in the relationship (e.g. sharing of time and responsibilities for household and work with partner) (Sörlin et al., 2011) • Earnings in the past month- mean log of income generated from paid work at baseline versus end-line in the intervention versus control arm • Economic empowerment- scales addressing financial self-efficacy, savings, control over assets, economic coercion (Yount et al., 2021) • Acceptability: participant’s perceptions on the intervention package and delivery in the intervention versus control arm • Total provider cost related to intervention delivery • Total participant-side cost- total direct and indirect costs associated with caregiving • Average cost per participant with an increase in wellbeing score in each arm	—

Measure

Time frame

• Gender attitudes- we will use the 10-item Gender Role’s Belief scale that measure individual perceptions about gender roles (Brown and Gladstone, 2012). • Gender equality index- examines self-perceived gender equality in the relationship (e.g. sharing of time and responsibilities for household and work with partner) (Sörlin et al., 2011) • Earnings in the past month- mean log of income generated from paid work at baseline versus end-line in the intervention versus control arm • Economic empowerment- scales addressing financial self-efficacy, savings, control over assets, economic coercion (Yount et al., 2021) • Acceptability: participant’s perceptions on the intervention package and delivery in the intervention versus control arm • Total provider cost related to intervention delivery • Total participant-side cost- total direct and indirect costs associated with caregiving • Average cost per participant with an increase in wellbeing score in each arm

—

Countries

South Africa

Contacts

Public ContactNokwanda Sithole

SAMRC

nokwanda.sithole@mrc.ac.za0813042009

Outcome results

None listed

Source: PACTR (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Sep 19, 2026