The SUUBI Program: Asset-Ownership for Orphaned Children in Uganda

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study examines an economic empowerment model of care and support for orphaned adolescents in rural Uganda. The Suubi intervention focuses on economic empowerment of families caring for orphaned youths. It attempts to address the health risks and poor educational achievements resulting from poverty and limited options.

Detailed Description
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The AIDS epidemic and a 20-year civil war have had a devastating impact on Uganda. The events have led to population displacement, worsening living conditions, exacerbation of poverty, and disruption of already weakened social service systems. As implemented, the Suubi Project goes considerably beyond the usual care, which primarily consists of institutionalization and reactive strategies (involving food and material aid). Specifically, the intervention promotes children's savings accounts, also known as children development accounts, for postprimary education and microenterprise development (i.e., development of small income-generating businesses). The Suubi intervention is grounded in asset theory (Sherraden 1990, 1991), which holds that assets (e.g., savings, educational opportunities, and economic opportunities in the form of income-generating activities or microenterprises) have important economic, social, and psychological benefits for individuals and families. Asset building is increasingly viewed as a critical factor for reducing poverty, improving psychosocial functioning, and positively affecting attitudes and behaviors.

Official Title
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The SUUBI Program: Creating Asset-Ownership Opportunities and Health Promotion Among Orphaned Children in Uganda

Conditions
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Poverty

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Children's development account


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: an orphaned child, defined as a child who has lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS; enrolled in primary school (even though possibly not attending regularly); between the ages of 12 to 15 years.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 11 Years
Maximum Age: 17 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Behavioral: Children's development account|Children in the experimental condition (the SUUBI program) received, in addition to the usual care, an economic empowerment intervention aimed at promoting asset accumulation for families-and consisting of three major components: 1) workshops focused on asset-building and future planning; 2) a monthly mentorship program for adolescents with peer mentors on life options; and 3) a Child Development Account (CDA), dedicated to paying for secondary schooling, vocational training and/or a family small business. The CDAs were matched savings accounts, with a match rate of 2:1 as an incentive for participants to save, but with a limit on the maximum savings that could be matched (the match cap, in this case, was equivalent to $10 a month).|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Savings and asset-accumulation | past experience, current savings, and attitudes toward saving | baseline, 10-month and 20-month post-intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sexual risk taking | Sexual risk taking behavior (history and onset of sexual intercourse), Intentions to engage in sexual risk behaviors | baseline, 10-month and 20-month post-intervention | 
| Educational outcomes | School enrollment, School attendance, School grades, Educational aspirations | baseline, 10-month, and 20-month post-intervention | 
| Mental health | Self-esteem, depression, hopelessness, helplessness | baseline, 10-month and 20-month post-intervention | 
| Social and family support | Emotional support from caregivers, practical assistance, financial assistance and advice/guidance, and family communication | baseline, 10-month and 20-month post-intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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economic empowerment model, orphans, sub-Saharan Africa