Peer Education for Gender Inclusion and Substance Use in Southern Africa
NCT Number: NCT06489899
Acronym: PEGISUS
Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
Phases: NA
Conditions: Substance Use|Gender Role
Interventions: BEHAVIORAL: PEGISUS
Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Collaborators: SolidarMed|Medical Research Council, South Africa|University of Zambia
Sex: ALL
Age: CHILD, ADULT
Enrollment: 264
Study Design: Allocation: RANDOMIZED|Intervention Model: PARALLEL|Masking: SINGLE (OUTCOMES_ASSESSOR)|Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
Start Date: 2024-08-22
Completion Date: 2025-12
Locations: SOZO Foundation, Cape Town, Western Cape, 7975, South Africa|Build It International, Chibombo, Zambia|Masvingo Polytechnic, Masvingo, Zimbabwe

Summary:
The goal of this trial is to test the effectiveness of a brief, behavioral peer group intervention called "PEGISUS" (Peer Education for Gender Inclusion and Substance Use in Southern Africa), on substance use, which will be embedded within existing vocational training programs in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Established peer groups who receive the PEGISUS intervention will complete nine sessions of an adapted intervention for substance use and gender equitable beliefs, embedded into vocational training programs. This will be compared to a standard of care control condition, which involves the vocational training program that is offered through the partner organization and a healthcare referral for substance use. The vocational training program partners are Sozo Foundation (South Africa), BuildIt International (Zambia), and Masvingo Polytechnic (Zimbabwe). Participants in both conditions will complete assessments at baseline, 12-weeks follow-up, and 20-weeks follow-up, consisting of self-reported questionnaires.

Primary Outcome Measures: Self-reported substance use for participants aged 18 and older, Self-report using the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance involvement Screening Test (ASSIST; for participants aged 18 and older). Higher scores indicate more substance use and associated problems., Change from baseline to 12-week follow-up assessment [range ≥8-20 weeks]|Self-reported substance use for participants aged 16 and 17, Self-report using the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test for Youth (ASSIST-Y; for participants aged 16 and 17). Higher scores indicate more substance use and associated problems., Change from baseline to 12-week follow-up assessment [range ≥8-20 weeks]
Secondary Outcome Measures: Self-reported substance use for participants aged 18 and older, Self-report using the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance involvement Screening Test (ASSIST; for participants aged 18 and older). Higher scores indicate more substance use and associated problems., Change from baseline to 24-week follow-up assessment [range >20-32 weeks]|Self-reported substance use for participants aged 16 and 17, Self-report using the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test for Youth (ASSIST-Y; for participants aged 16 and 17). Higher scores indicate more substance use and associated problems., Change from baseline to 24-week follow-up assessment [range >20-32 weeks]|Self-reported gender equitable beliefs, Self-report using the adapted 23-item version of the Gender Equitable Men's Scale. Items are scored on a 3-point likert scale with higher scores representing more equitable norms., Change from baseline to 12-week follow-up assessment [range ≥8-20 weeks] and 24-week follow-up assessment [range >20-32 weeks]|Attendance at vocational training program, Number of months of attendance in vocational training program., 24-week follow-up assessment [range >20-32 weeks]|Completion of vocational program, Whether the participant completed the vocational training program., 24-week follow-up assessment [range >20-32 weeks]|Employment, Subsequent employment status will be taken from vocational training program records, supplemented with self-report., 24-week follow-up assessment [range >20-32 weeks]|Income earned, Income earned will be taken from vocational training program records, supplemented with self-report., 24-week follow-up assessment [range >20-32 weeks]