Combining Self-Help and Alcohol Intervention for Refugee Men in Uganda
Author Information
Author(s): M. Claire Greene, Lena S. Andersen, Marx R. Leku, Teresa Au, Josephine Akellot, Nawaraj Upadhaya, Raymond Odokonyero, Ross White, Peter Ventevogel, Claudia Garcia-Moreno, Wietse A. Tol
Primary Institution: Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
Hypothesis
Combining a guided self-help intervention with a brief alcohol intervention will improve mental health and reduce substance use among refugee men.
Conclusion
The study found that combining a self-help intervention with a brief alcohol intervention is feasible for improving mental health and reducing substance use among refugee men in Uganda.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants showed adequate session attendance with at least 69% present.
- Outcome measures were sensitive to change, indicating the interventions had an impact.
- High levels of engagement and low attrition were observed during the study.
Takeaway
This study shows that helping refugee men with both their mental health and drinking problems together can work well.
Methodology
A cluster randomized feasibility trial was conducted comparing a combined intervention of Self-Help Plus and ASSIST-BI, Self-Help Plus alone, and enhanced usual care.
Potential Biases
Demographic characteristics differed significantly across study arms, which may reflect clustering of similar individuals within villages.
Limitations
The study was not designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the combined interventions, and adaptations were made during the formative phase.
Participant Demographics
Participants were South Sudanese refugee men, primarily Kakwa ethnicity, with a mean age of 36 years, most married and employed.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: −12.79, −5.79
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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