Effects of parenting classes and economic strengthening for caregivers on the cognition of HIV-exposed infants: a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial in rural Zimbabwe

Introduction HIV-exposed children show signs of developmental delay. We assessed the impact of a pragmatic multicomponent intervention for caregivers of HIV-exposed children aged 0–2 years in Zimbabwe.Methods We conducted a cluster-randomised trial from 2016 to 2018. Clusters were catchments surroun...

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Main Authors: Frances M Cowan, Lorraine Sherr, Victoria Simms, Helen Mebrahtu, Zivai Mupambireyi, Andrea M Rehman, Rudo Chingono, Edward Matsikire, Rickie Malaba, Patience Ndlovu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2019-10-01
Series:BMJ Global Health
Online Access:https://gh.bmj.com/content/4/5/e001651.full
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author Frances M Cowan
Lorraine Sherr
Victoria Simms
Helen Mebrahtu
Zivai Mupambireyi
Andrea M Rehman
Rudo Chingono
Edward Matsikire
Rickie Malaba
Patience Ndlovu
author_facet Frances M Cowan
Lorraine Sherr
Victoria Simms
Helen Mebrahtu
Zivai Mupambireyi
Andrea M Rehman
Rudo Chingono
Edward Matsikire
Rickie Malaba
Patience Ndlovu
author_sort Frances M Cowan
collection DOAJ
description Introduction HIV-exposed children show signs of developmental delay. We assessed the impact of a pragmatic multicomponent intervention for caregivers of HIV-exposed children aged 0–2 years in Zimbabwe.Methods We conducted a cluster-randomised trial from 2016 to 2018. Clusters were catchments surrounding clinics, allocated (1:1) to either National HIV guidelines standard of care or standard care plus an 18-session group intervention comprising i) early childhood stimulation (ECS) and parenting training with home visits to reinforce skills and retention in HIV care; ii) economic strengthening. Primary outcomes measured 12 months after baseline (4.5 months postintervention completion) included: i) global child development measured using the Mullen early learning composite score; ii) retention in HIV care. Analysis used mixed effects regression to account for clustering and adjusted minimally for baseline prognostic factors and was by intention to treat.Results Thirty clusters, 15 in each arm, were randomised. 574 dyads were recruited with 89.5% retained at follow-up. Ninety one of 281 (32.4%) were recorded as having received the complete intervention package, with 161/281 (57.3%) attending ≥14 ECS sessions. There was no evidence of an intervention effect on global child development (intervention mean 88.1 vs standard of care mean 87.6; adjusted mean difference=0.06; 95% CI −2.68 to 2.80; p=0.97) or infant retention in care (proportion of children who had missed their most recent HIV test: intervention 21.8% vs standard of care 16.9%, p=0.18). There was weak evidence that the proportion of caregivers with parental stress was reduced in the intervention arm (adjusted OR (aOR)=0.69; 95% CI 0.45 to 1.05; p=0.08) and stronger evidence that parental distress specifically was reduced (intervention arm 17.4% vs standard of care 29.1% scoring above the cut-off; aOR=0.56; 95% CI 0.35 to 0.89; p=0.01).Conclusion This multicomponent intervention had no impact on child development outcomes within 4.5 months of completion, but had an impact on parental distress. Maternal mental health remains a high priority.Trial registration number PACTR201701001387209.
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spelling doaj-art-1fdae36030fb4a40a5f9858d41b98f312025-08-20T01:56:39ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Global Health2059-79082019-10-014510.1136/bmjgh-2019-001651Effects of parenting classes and economic strengthening for caregivers on the cognition of HIV-exposed infants: a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial in rural ZimbabweFrances M Cowan0Lorraine Sherr1Victoria Simms2Helen Mebrahtu3Zivai Mupambireyi4Andrea M Rehman5Rudo Chingono6Edward Matsikire7Rickie Malaba8Patience Ndlovu9Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UKInstitute for Global Health, University College London, London, UKMRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UKInstitute of Global Health, University College London, London, UKCentre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research, Harare, Zimbabwe10 Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UKCentre for Sexual Health HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, Harare, ZimbabweCentre for Sexual Health HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) Zimbabwe, Harare, ZimbabweMRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, World Education Inc./Bantwana, Harare, ZimbabweMRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, World Education Inc./Bantwana, Harare, ZimbabweIntroduction HIV-exposed children show signs of developmental delay. We assessed the impact of a pragmatic multicomponent intervention for caregivers of HIV-exposed children aged 0–2 years in Zimbabwe.Methods We conducted a cluster-randomised trial from 2016 to 2018. Clusters were catchments surrounding clinics, allocated (1:1) to either National HIV guidelines standard of care or standard care plus an 18-session group intervention comprising i) early childhood stimulation (ECS) and parenting training with home visits to reinforce skills and retention in HIV care; ii) economic strengthening. Primary outcomes measured 12 months after baseline (4.5 months postintervention completion) included: i) global child development measured using the Mullen early learning composite score; ii) retention in HIV care. Analysis used mixed effects regression to account for clustering and adjusted minimally for baseline prognostic factors and was by intention to treat.Results Thirty clusters, 15 in each arm, were randomised. 574 dyads were recruited with 89.5% retained at follow-up. Ninety one of 281 (32.4%) were recorded as having received the complete intervention package, with 161/281 (57.3%) attending ≥14 ECS sessions. There was no evidence of an intervention effect on global child development (intervention mean 88.1 vs standard of care mean 87.6; adjusted mean difference=0.06; 95% CI −2.68 to 2.80; p=0.97) or infant retention in care (proportion of children who had missed their most recent HIV test: intervention 21.8% vs standard of care 16.9%, p=0.18). There was weak evidence that the proportion of caregivers with parental stress was reduced in the intervention arm (adjusted OR (aOR)=0.69; 95% CI 0.45 to 1.05; p=0.08) and stronger evidence that parental distress specifically was reduced (intervention arm 17.4% vs standard of care 29.1% scoring above the cut-off; aOR=0.56; 95% CI 0.35 to 0.89; p=0.01).Conclusion This multicomponent intervention had no impact on child development outcomes within 4.5 months of completion, but had an impact on parental distress. Maternal mental health remains a high priority.Trial registration number PACTR201701001387209.https://gh.bmj.com/content/4/5/e001651.full
spellingShingle Frances M Cowan
Lorraine Sherr
Victoria Simms
Helen Mebrahtu
Zivai Mupambireyi
Andrea M Rehman
Rudo Chingono
Edward Matsikire
Rickie Malaba
Patience Ndlovu
Effects of parenting classes and economic strengthening for caregivers on the cognition of HIV-exposed infants: a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial in rural Zimbabwe
BMJ Global Health
title Effects of parenting classes and economic strengthening for caregivers on the cognition of HIV-exposed infants: a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial in rural Zimbabwe
title_full Effects of parenting classes and economic strengthening for caregivers on the cognition of HIV-exposed infants: a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial in rural Zimbabwe
title_fullStr Effects of parenting classes and economic strengthening for caregivers on the cognition of HIV-exposed infants: a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial in rural Zimbabwe
title_full_unstemmed Effects of parenting classes and economic strengthening for caregivers on the cognition of HIV-exposed infants: a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial in rural Zimbabwe
title_short Effects of parenting classes and economic strengthening for caregivers on the cognition of HIV-exposed infants: a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial in rural Zimbabwe
title_sort effects of parenting classes and economic strengthening for caregivers on the cognition of hiv exposed infants a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial in rural zimbabwe
url https://gh.bmj.com/content/4/5/e001651.full
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