NCT06975137

Zithandani Stepping Stones and Creating Futures - Phase 2 Pilot

Adapting an Evidenced-based Intervention to Reduce IPV for Use Among Young Heterosexual Couples in South Africa - Zithandani SSCF - Phase 2: Pilot

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 100 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Exeter · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The goal of this uncontrolled intervention study is to assess whether Zithandani Stepping Stones and Creating Futures is feasible to deliver, acceptable for participants, safe for participants and to estimate effect sizes, in young (ages 18-40 years) heterosexual couples, living in urban informal settlements in eThekwini Municipality, South Africa. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Is Zithandani SSCF feasible to deliver to young couples, and what are the barriers and opportunities in intervention delivery? 2. Is Zithandani SSCF acceptable to participants? What do they like and what do they not like about the intervention? 3. Is Zithandani SSCF safe for female participants and do they engage adequately? 4. Does Zithandani SSCF show indication of positive change on key indicators and what are the effect sizes? Participants will be recruited as heterosexual couples and participate in 14 sessions, each approximately 3 hours long, with between 4 and 6 other couples, focused on gender norms, livelihoods and communication.

Conditions

• Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
• Earning Outcomes
• Mental Health
• Couple Communication
• Couple Conflict
• Couples
• Livelihoods

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Zithandani Stepping Stones and Creating Futures	Delivered to heterosexual couples. 14 group based sessions, with each session lasting approximately 3 hours. Sessions are delivered by two trained facilitators. Intervention focused on transforming gender norms, strengthening communication, reducing symptoms of poor mental health and improving relationship dynamics. Mixture of couples focused, same-gender discussions, and whole group discussions.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-06-01
• Primary completion: 2025-12-01
• Completion: 2025-12-01
• First posted: 2025-05-16
• Last updated: 2025-05-20

Locations

1 site across 1 country: South Africa