Pilot Feasibility Trial of the Family Strengthening Intervention in Rwanda (FSI-R)

Summary

The research will examine the following Specific Aims:

Specific Aim 1: To adapt a U.S.-developed family-focused and strengths-based prevention program to the context of HIV/AIDS-affected families in Rwanda (the Family-Strengthening Intervention in Rwanda or "FSI-R") using prior qualitative findings and CAB input.

Specific Aim 2: To deliver the intervention to a small group of families to collect preliminary data on intervention feasibility, acceptability, and to further refine the intervention manual for the FSI-R.

Specific Aim 3: To conduct a pilot feasibility study of the FSI-R with 80 families.

In pursuit of Specific Aim 3, this research will (a) conduct a preliminary exploratory analysis to examine the extent to which the FSI-R for HIV/AIDS-affected families is associated with improved caregiver-child relationships using measures of family connectedness, good parenting, and social support. Hypothesis 1: Participants in the FSI-R will demonstrate increases in protective processes compared to usual care controls not exposed to the FSI-R. It will also (b) conduct a preliminary exploratory analysis to determine the extent to which improved caregiver-child relationships are sustained four months after the conclusion of the FSI-R. Hypothesis 2: Four months after the conclusion of the intervention, participants in the FSI-R will demonstrate increases in protective processes compared to usual care controls not exposed to the FSI-R.

Conditions

• Depressive Symptoms
• Anxiety
• Parenting

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Family Strengthening Intervention in Rwanda (FSI-R)

Core components of the FSI-R are derived from the FBPI theoretical framework, and were chosen to address key risk factors identified in qualitative data. The FSI-R holds separate preliminary meetings with caregivers and children to prepare for a larger family meeting. In these modules, the interventionist helps caregivers and children prioritize concerns or key messages that they most want to share with the other party. Role play and discussions are used to impart improved parenting and communication skills. In the family meetings, children and caregivers share their concerns with one another and develop a shared family narrative, which integrates past events into a singular story with shared goals and a future orientation. These family modules also discuss the services and supports (formal and non-formal resources) that the family can engage with in order to achieve their shared goals. 8-12 weeks for 1-2 hours per week, depending on each family's pace and coverage of the material.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Partners in Health

  collaborator OTHER

• Harvard University

  collaborator OTHER

• Boston Children's Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Theresa S Betancourt, ScD, MA · Associate Professor, Harvard School of Public Health

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

5 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2011-07-31

Primary Completion

2014-06-30

Completion

2014-06-30

Countries

• Rwanda

Study Locations