NCT03665246

Evaluation of the iMBC/ECD Model in Ghana

Evaluation of the iMBC/ECD Model on Maternal Mental Health and Child Development in Ghana

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 378 (actual)
• Sponsor: Duke University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 16 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The Duke research team will work with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and lead the design and implementation of a cluster-randomized trial in Northern Ghana to assess the impact of the Integrated Mothers and Babies Course \& Early Childhood Development (iMBC/ECD) intervention on the mental wellbeing of mothers of children under 2 and their children's attainment of age-appropriate developmental milestones.

Detailed description

Maternal psychological disorders around the time of pregnancy and childbirth have been identified as a key risk factor for poor child development outcomes in growth, cognition, and overall child health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Maternal depression during a child's infancy predicts negative behavior and lower achievement scores, as well as increased absences in elementary school), and has been identified as a significant risk factor for poor infant growth in the developing world. There is considerable evidence to suggest that a community-based intervention, delivered by trained community volunteers, can have a significant impact on perinatal depression and child development outcomes. This cluster-randomized trial in Northern Ghana will assess the impact of the Integrated Mothers and Babies Course \& Early Childhood Development (iMBC/ECD) intervention on the mental wellbeing of mothers of children under 2 and their children's attainment of age-appropriate developmental milestones. In Ghana, the iMBC/ECD will be implemented in the context of the Rural Emergency Health Service and Transport project (REST II). A key activity of REST II is Community Pregnancy Surveillance and Targeted Education Sessions (C-PrES). Routine C-PrES is delivered via educational group sessions that promote the adoption of key Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) behaviors (e.g. newborn care, exclusive breastfeeding, etc.) among pregnant women and mothers of children under age two.

Conditions

• Early Childhood Development

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Integrated Mothers and Babies Course	The Integrated Mothers and Babies Course/Early Childhood Development (iMBC/ECD) will be implemented along side normal C-PrES programming (key MNCHN behaviors). The iMBC curriculum is a prevention model based on cognitive behavioral therapy with the aim of supporting pregnant women and mothers with children under two years of age to become more resilient, decrease risk for future depression, and manage daily stressors effectively. In addition, the updated version of the iMBC is integrated with selected early childhood development (ECD) messages. The integration of these messages is intended to increase mothers' knowledge of the stressors associated with pregnancy and parenting young children and promote early stimulation behaviors and bonding to support child development.

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-08-29
• Primary completion: 2020-02-26
• Completion: 2020-02-26
• First posted: 2018-09-11
• Last updated: 2020-07-24

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Ghana