Evaluating feasibility and acceptability of a local psycho-educational intervention for pregnant women with common mental problems affected by armed conflict in Swat, Pakistan: A parallel randomized controlled feasibility trial



Khan, Muhammad Naseem, Dherani, Mukesh ORCID: 0000-0002-3055-9636, Chiumento, Anna ORCID: 0000-0002-0526-0173, Atif, Najia, Bristow, Katie, Sikander, Siham ORCID: 0000-0002-0223-7234 and Rahman, Atif ORCID: 0000-0002-2066-4467
(2017) Evaluating feasibility and acceptability of a local psycho-educational intervention for pregnant women with common mental problems affected by armed conflict in Swat, Pakistan: A parallel randomized controlled feasibility trial. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY, 63 (8). pp. 724-735.

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Abstract

<h4>Background</h4>The current research was conducted in the Swat valley, where widespread conflict and militancy had been experienced prior to the field activities. The aim of this trial was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a locally developed psycho-educational intervention.<h4>Methods</h4>This mixed-methods study incorporated a quantitative and qualitative component. For the quantitative component, trial participants were identified from a cross-sectional study conducted in the earlier phase of the research, with Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ) score of ≥9. Participants with suicidal ideation, severe mental or medical illness, recently given birth or living with another woman with an SRQ score of 9 or above were excluded. Participants fulfilling eligibility were randomized on a 1:1 allocation ratio using simple randomization to the psycho-educational intervention or routine care arm. The intervention arm received two psycho-educational sessions at their homes delivered by local community health worker from the study area. The primary outcome was help-seeking for psychological distress, measured by a semi-structured interview by a researcher blind to the allocation status at 2 months post-intervention. Secondary outcomes include psychological distress and social support measured by SRQ and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), respectively, at 2 months post-intervention. Intervention acceptability was explored through in-depth interviews.<h4>Results</h4>Local community health workers with no mental health experience successfully delivered the psycho-educational sessions in the community. The uptake of intervention was good and the intervention was taken well by the families and the community health workers. The outcome evaluation was not powered; however, more women sought assistance for their distress from their community health workers in the intervention arm, compared to women in the control arm.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This trial showed good acceptance and feasible delivery of a locally developed psycho-educational intervention through community health workers following conflict, giving way for further adaptation and evaluation.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Randomized controlled feasibility trial, psycho-education, pregnant women, feasibility and acceptability, community health workers, conflict
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 08 Oct 2018 09:00
Last Modified: 13 Feb 2024 15:12
DOI: 10.1177/0020764017734001
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3010282