The goal of this randomised controlled clinical trial is to test the Stepping Stones and Creating Futures Plus (SSCF+) intervention, in young (18-25 years) people living in urban informal settlements in Durban and rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is the intervention acceptable and feasible * What is the potential effect size on key outcomes of intimate partner violence Participants will be randomised (1:1) to compare SSCF+ and a control arm to see if there are differences between the two on intimate partner violence.
Intimate partner violence is very common in South Africa, particularly urban informal settlements. We have co-developed an intervention, called Stepping Stones and Creating Futures Plus (SSCF+), which will be evaluated in women and men aged 18-25 years living in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This is a pilot randomised controlled trial and as such there is focus on understanding whether the intervention is acceptable (to participants), feasible to deliver, and the potential effect sizes we may see in a full trial.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
323
Group-based intervention delivered to small friendship networks, by a facilitator.
South African Medical Research Council
Durban, South Africa
Physical Intimate Partner Violence
Past 6 month experience (women) and perpetration (men) of physical IPV as assessed using WHO measure of IPV (5 items, binary)
Time frame: 6 months
Sexual Intimate Partner Violence
Past 6 month experience (women) and perpetration (men) of sexual IPV as assessed using WHO measure of IPV (3 items)
Time frame: 6 months
Severe Intimate partner violence
Past 6 month experience (women) and perpetration (men) of severe IPV as assessed using WHO IPV scale (8 items, coded into a binary)
Time frame: 6 months
Depressive symptoms
Mean score of depressive symptoms as assessed by the Center for Epidemiology Studies Depression Scale (CESD) comprising 20 items
Time frame: 6 months
Post-traumatic-stress symptoms
Post traumatic stress symptoms experienced in past week (mean) as assessed through the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (16 items)
Time frame: 6 months
Emotional Dysregulation
Assessed via the Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale (DERS) short form, 16 items. Mean score.
Time frame: 6 months
Earnings
Self-reported past month earnings (South African Rand)
Time frame: 6 months
Savings
Self-report past month savings (South African Rand)
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Time frame: 6 months
Hunger
Past month food insecurity assessed through the 3 items of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS)
Time frame: 6 months
Livelihood Activities
Frequency of livelihood strengthening activities in the past 3 months, assessed through seven items
Time frame: 6 months
Work stress
Experience of stress because of lack of work and money assessed through 4 items
Time frame: 6 months
Work shame
Experience of shame because of lack of work and money assessed through 4 items
Time frame: 6 months
Capabilities
Experience of capabilities assessed through 5 items of a modified ICECAP scale
Time frame: 6 months