Abstract
BackgroundIt is estimated that almost 20% of the world’s adolescents have experienced or are experiencing a mental health problem. Several factors have been associated with the onset of adolescent mental health disorders, including poverty, child abuse and violence, particularly among adolescent girls. This paper examines the effect of participating in a family-based economic strengthening intervention on the mental health well-being of female adolescent orphans impacted by HIV/AIDS in rural Uganda.MethodsData utilized in this study was from the Bridges to the Future Study (2011–2016), an economic empowerment intervention aimed at improving health outcomes of orphaned children. Adolescents were randomly assigned to either the control condition receiving bolstered standard of care services for orphaned adolescents; or one of two treatment conditions receiving bolstered standard of care as well as an economic empowerment intervention comprising of a child development account, a mentorship program and workshops on financial management and microenterprise development. Data was collected at baseline, 12- and 24-months post intervention initiation. Multilinear regression analyses were conducted to examine the impact of an economic empowerment intervention on mental health functioning of female participants over time. Mental health functioning was measured by: (1) the Child Depression Inventory; (2) Beck Hopelessness Scale; and (3) Tennessee Self Concept Scale.ResultsAnalysis results show an improvement in mental health functioning over time among female participants receiving the intervention compared to their control counterparts. Specifically, compared to participants in the control condition, participants receiving the intervention reported a reduction in depressive symptoms from baseline to 12-months follow-up (b = − 1.262, 95% CI − 2.476, − 0.047), and an additional 0.645-point reduction between baseline and 24-months follow-up (b = − 1.907, 95% CI − 3.192, − 0.622). Participants receiving the intervention reported significant improvement in their reported self-concept from baseline to 24 months follow-up (b = 3.503 (95% CI 1.469, 5.538) compared to participants in the control condition.ConclusionsEmpowerment of young girls, either in the form of peer mentorship and/or economic strengthening seems to significantly improve the overall mental health functioning of adolescent girls impacted by HIV and AIDS in low-income settings.
Highlights
Worldwide, an estimated 10–20% of adolescents and youth between 14 and 24 years old struggle with mental health issues [1]
Building upon asset theory and previous findings, this current study examines both the short-and long-term impact of a family-based economic strengthening intervention on the mental health wellbeing of female adolescents orphaned by HIV/AIDS
We argue that female adolescents participating in an economic empowerment intervention that combines matched savings, peer mentorship, financial management trainings and income generating activities will be more likely to report higher levels of self-concept, lower depression levels and more hopefulness about the future compared to their counterparts in the control condition
Summary
An estimated 10–20% of adolescents and youth between 14 and 24 years old struggle with mental health issues [1]. Available data from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) indicates that 1 in 7 children and adolescents (between 0 and 16 years) had a mental health difficulty [3]. Available data from cross sectional surveys indicate that 21% of adolescents in Uganda suffer from mental disorders like depression [4]. Orphaned adolescents may not directly express their worries and anxieties, leading to feelings of anger, resentment as well as a sense of alienation and desperation [16]. Such emotions can result in risk taking behaviors and withdrawal [16]. This paper examines the effect of participating in a family-based economic strengthening intervention on the mental health well-being of female adolescent orphans impacted by HIV/AIDS in rural Uganda
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