Abstract
There is a scarcity of specialist trainers and supervisors for psychosocial interventions in low- and middle-income countries. A cascaded model of training and supervision was developed to sustain delivery of an evidence-based peer-delivered intervention for perinatal depression (the Thinking Healthy Programme) in rural Pakistan. The study aimed to evaluate the model. Mixed methods were employed as part of a randomised controlled trial of the intervention. Quantitative data consisted of the peers' competencies assessed during field training and over the implementation phase of the intervention, using a specially developed checklist. Qualitative data were collected from peers and their trainers through 11 focus groups during the second and third year of intervention rollout. Following training, 43 peers out of 45 (95%) achieved at least a 'satisfactory' level of competency (scores of ⩾70% on the Quality and Competency Checklist). Of the cohort of 45 peers initially recruited 34 (75%) were retained over 3 years and showed sustained or improved competencies over time. Qualitatively, the key factors contributing to peers' competency were use of interactive training and supervision techniques, the trainer-peer relationship, and their cultural similarity. The partnership with community health workers and use of primary health care facilities for training and supervision gave credibility to the peers in the community. The study demonstrates that lay-workers such as peers can be trained and supervised to deliver a psychological intervention using a cascaded model, thus addressing the barrier of scarcity of specialist trainers and supervisors.
Highlights
The Thinking Healthy Programme (THP) for perinatal depression (Rahman, 2007; Rahman et al, 2008) is an example of an evidence-based psychosocial intervention that can be delivered by non-specialists in community settings
To aid scale-up efforts through task shifting, we conducted a series of studies to evaluate the feasibility of peer-volunteers to work alongside community based lady health workers (LHWs) to deliver THP to their local communities (Singla et al, 2014)
This paper describes the process of training and supervision of the peer volunteers in the Thinking Healthy Programme – Peer-delivered (THPP) using a cascaded model
Summary
The Thinking Healthy Programme (THP) for perinatal depression (Rahman, 2007; Rahman et al, 2008) is an example of an evidence-based psychosocial intervention that can be delivered by non-specialists in community settings. To aid scale-up efforts through task shifting, we conducted a series of studies to evaluate the feasibility of peer-volunteers (local volunteer lay women who shared socio-demographic and life experiences with the target population) to work alongside community based lady health workers (LHWs) to deliver THP to their local communities (Singla et al, 2014). This paper describes the process of training and supervision of the peer volunteers in the Thinking Healthy Programme – Peer-delivered (THPP) using a cascaded model. A cascaded model of training and supervision was developed to sustain delivery of an evidence-based peer-delivered intervention for perinatal depression (the Thinking Healthy Programme) in rural Pakistan.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.