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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04861870

Bandebereho 6 Year Follow up RCT in Rwanda

This study seeks to conduct a six-year follow-up of the Bandebereho randomized control trial (RCT) to assess the longer-term impact of the gender-transformative Bandebereho couples intervention on participating men, women, and their children. The Bandebereho program was implemented by the Rwanda Men's Resource Centre (RWAMREC) and Promundo-US, in collaboration with the Rwanda Ministry of Health and local authorities between 2013 and 2015. A two-arm RCT collected three rounds of data from 1,199 couples (575 treatment; 624 control) starting in 2015-16: baseline (pre-intervention), 9 month follow-up, and 21-month follow-up. The findings at 21-months demonstrated significant impacts of the intervention on multiple gender and health-related outcomes. This study will conduct surveys with men enrolled in the RCT and their female partners 6 years after the intervention, to assess its long-term impact on reproductive and maternal health, gender attitudes and household dynamics, intimate partner violence, mental health and wellbeing, parenting, and child development. In addition, child assessments will be conducted with a sub-sample of 800 children aged 4 to 7 years to directly assess early childhood development outcomes.

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Key information

Conditions

Gender Relations Behavior Child Development Coitus Contraception Partner Communication Prenatal Care Sexual Behavior Violence

Age range

21 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Rwanda Men's Resource Centre

Kigali, Rwanda

About this study

This study seeks to conduct a six-year follow-up of the Bandebereho randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the longer-term impact of the gender-transformative Bandebereho couples intervention on participating men, women, and their children. The Bandebereho program being assessed was first implemented by the Rwanda Men's Resource Center (RWAMREC) and Promundo-US, in collaboration with the Rwanda Ministry of Health and local authorities in Karongi, Musanze, Nyaruguru and Nyaruguru districts between 2013 and 2015. A two-arm RCT was conducted with 1,199 couples (575 treatment; 624 control) in 2015-16. Three rounds of data were collected: baseline (pre-intervention), 9 month follow-up (4 months post-intervention), and 21-month follow-up (16 months post-intervention). The findings at 21-months demonstrated significant impacts of the intervention on multiple gender and health-related outcomes. The proposed study will conduct surveys with men enrolled in the RCT and their female partners, to assess the longer-term impact of the intervention on reproductive and maternal health, gender attitudes and household dynamics, intimate partner violence, mental health and wellbeing, parenting, and child development. In addition, child assessments will be conducted with a sub-sample of 800 children aged 4 to 7 years to directly assess early childhood development outcomes.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

at baseline:

  • Men aged 21-35 years
  • Living with a partner
  • Expectant (or soon to be) father or father of young children under-5
  • Living in an area with a group facilitator

Exclusion criteria

at baseline:

  • Participated in previous cycles of the same intervention

Treatment and study plan

MenCare+/Bandebereho fathers'/couples' group education

Behavioral

MenCare+/Bandebereho was a 3 year project to engage men in maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) and in sexual and reproductive health in Rwanda. A core component of the project is fathers'/couples' group education. The target participants were first-time parents or parents of young children living in 16 rural and semi-urban sectors selected by the implementing partner in collaboration with local authorities. The MenCare+/Bandebereho fathers'/couples' group education engaged men in 15 weekly sessions of group discussion, critical reflection and interactive activities led by a trained facilitator using a curriculum developed by RWAMREC and Promundo and approved by the Rwandan Ministry of Health, adapted from the Program P Manual. Men's partners participate in 6-8 sessions. The sessions focused on men's role in MNCH, family planning, sharing household responsibilities, intimate partner violence, conflict resolution, family budgeting, and gender equality.

Other names: Program P

Primary outcomes

  1. Women's experiences of intimate partner violence (physical & sexual)

    Time frame: Experience of violence in past 12 months, measured 6 years post intervention

    A composite capturing self-reported exposure to a standard set of violent acts by a partner in past 12 months, adapted from World Health Organisation's multi-country study on violence against women.

  2. Use of violence/harsh punishment against children

    Time frame: 6 years post intervention

    A composite capturing respondents' self reported use of various harsh discipline acts in the past month, adapted from the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) study.

  3. Observation-based child development measure

    Time frame: 6 years post intervention

    Observation-based scores on the International Development and Early Learning Assessment (IDELA) for children ages 4-7

  4. Child behavior assessment

    Time frame: 6 years post intervention

    Parent-reported scores on Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Family planning

    Time frame: 6 years post intervention

    Self reported responses on current use of family planning methods, using Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) measure.

  2. Antenatal care (ANC) service utilization

    Time frame: 6 years post intervention

    Self reported responses on women's frequency of ANC visits during most recent pregnancy, using DHS measure (women only).

  3. Antenatal care (ANC) accompaniment

    Time frame: 6 years post intervention

    Self reported responses on men's frequency of accompaniment to ANC visits during most recent pregnancy, adapted from International Men and Gender Equality Survey.

  4. Parenting behaviors with children

    Time frame: 6 years post intervention

    Composite variable capturing behaviors with children in the past week (e.g. reading stories, playing, etc.) adapted from IDELA HOME and select items related to parenting behaviors adapted from the Parenting and Family Adjustment Scales (PAFAS).

  5. Parenting behaviors and adjustment

    Time frame: 6 years post intervention

    Select items related to parenting behaviors and feelings adapted from the Parenting and Family Adjustment Scales (PAFAS).

  6. Time spent/gender division of caregiving/domestic tasks and paid work

    Time frame: 6 years post intervention

    a) A composite measure of self-reported time spent on specific tasks in the past week; and b) self-reported distribution of tasks between partners.

Other outcomes

  1. Couple communication

    Time frame: 6 years post intervention

    A composite capturing frequency of communication across multiple topics.

  2. Gender-related attitudes

    Time frame: 6 years post intervention

    A continuous scale variable, adapted from the validated Gender Equitable Men (GEM) scale; scores range from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating more equitable attitudes.

  3. Decision-making in relationship

    Time frame: 6 years post intervention

    Self-reported responses on who makes the decision in the relationship, adapted from the DHS.

  4. Frequency of quarreling

    Time frame: 6 years post intervention

    Self-reported response to one item capturing frequency of quarreling in the couple.

  5. Relationship quality and conflict resolution

    Time frame: 6 years post intervention

    Self-reported relationship quality items adapted from the relationship quality scale from the Decision Making in Low-Income Couples scale.

  6. Relationship conflict resolution

    Time frame: 6 years post intervention

    Self-reported items on couple communication and resolution in conflict adapted from the Couple Functionality Assessment.

  7. Alcohol use

    Time frame: 6 years post intervention

    Self reported alcohol use (men & women) and women's reports on partners' alcohol use (women) in past year, adapted from the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).

  8. Depression/Mental health

    Time frame: 6 years post intervention

    Self reported symptoms in past week, adapted from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) short form.

  9. Reproductive coercion

    Time frame: Coercion in the past year, measured 6 years post intervention

    Women's self reported experience with reproductive coercion from their current partner in the past year, adapted from the Reproductive Autonomy coercion subscale.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Promundo, United States

Other

Collaborators

  • Rwanda Men's Resource Centre

Registry information

Official study title

Bandebereho Randomized Control Trial: Six Year Follow-up to Assess the Impact of a Gender-transformative Intervention With Couples to Promote Men's Engagement in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, Caregiving and Healthier Couple Relations

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Apr 27, 2021
Registry last updated
Oct 29, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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