Clinical trial NCT03026335: Childhood Resiliency Effects for School-wide Treatment in Belize City
Official title: Childhood Resiliency Effects for School-wide Treatment in Belize City
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Child Behavior
Keywords: Positive Youth Development
Lead sponsor: University of North Texas, Denton, TX
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2017-01-20
Enrollment: 6296
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 4
Maximum age (years): 12
Standard ages: CHILD
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: The purpose of the study is to use existing school resources and improve identification, referral and local support for children that exhibit exposure to childhood trauma resulting from environmental violence in Belize City. The Ministry of Education has identified the goals of the project to reduce violent behaviors in primary school children and supporting those children that have been exposed to violence or other malicious behavior that would inhibit normal school functioning. In addition, the MOE is supporting additional resources and data collection for a comprehensive evaluation of student behavior and academic performance.

Detailed description: Belize is a country with a developing economy based primarily on agriculture and tourism. Crime and violence are emerging as a threat to the country's governance and business climate. The number of homicides in Belize have increased by more than 30% from 2003-2006. This notion of violence, in particular gang violence, is extremely concerning because the population of Belize is very young. Almost half of the population of Belize is under the age of 18. The youth of Belize are becoming engaged in criminal and delinquent behaviors at an early age that have both individual and societal consequences.

In addition to the violence rates among youth in Belize there is also an educational crisis that must be addressed. Education in Belize is compulsory between the ages of 5-14 and in 2001 93% of 5-14 year old children attended school. Although primary school is mandatory (up to age 14), only about 75% of youth complete primary school and only 25% graduate from secondary school. With few students completing high school it is likely that many may turn to gang related and other illegal activities if they are not prepared to undertake better job opportunities, have not been provided with environmental assets that protect from involvement in risky behavior, and if they are exposed to community/family values that condone gang activity. A number of studies have demonstrated that school-based interventions have moderate effects in reducing violence (average of d = .20 across studies). Combining a sound school-based intervention in Belize that is primarily targeted toward students and teachers, but combined with school-based community/family components designed to heighten awareness of the necessity of protective assets, implemented with local and international support teams, and that fosters positive norms may enhance the effects.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Enrolled in primary schools under the authority of the Belize Ministry of Education in the Belize District
* Enrolled in eight grades referred to as Infant 1 and 2 (generally aged 5 and 6 years), and 1st through 6th Standard (comprising ages 7 - 12 years)

Exclusion Criteria:

* None

Primary outcomes:
measure: Social-Emotional and Character Development Scale
timeFrame: Nine (9) months from the beginning of the school year until the end of the school year to coincide with treatment
measure: Peer Affiliation Scale
timeFrame: Nine (9) months from the beginning of the school year until the end of the school year to coincide with treatment
measure: Behavior Assessment for Children (BASC)
timeFrame: Nine (9) months from the beginning of the school year until the end of the school year to coincide with treatment
measure: Substance Use and Violent Tendencies Scale
timeFrame: Nine (9) months from the beginning of the school year until the end of the school year to coincide with treatment
measure: Belief in Moral Center Scale
timeFrame: Nine (9) months from the beginning of the school year until the end of the school year to coincide with treatment
measure: Self-Report Scale of Rewards for Pro-Social Behavior
timeFrame: Nine (9) months from the beginning of the school year until the end of the school year to coincide with treatment
measure: School Self-Esteem Scale
timeFrame: Nine (9) months from the beginning of the school year until the end of the school year to coincide with treatment
measure: Neighborhood Youth Inventory
timeFrame: Nine (9) months from the beginning of the school year until the end of the school year to coincide with treatment
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
Study officials:
affiliation: University of North Texas Health Science Center
name: Darrell M Hull, Ph.D.
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: