Evaluating a Movement-Based Mental Health Promotion Intervention for Refugee Children in Uganda: A Quasi-Experimental Study

• Published in: Journal of clinical child and adolescent psychology 2024-04, p.1-16
• Main Authors: Bleile, Alexandra C E, Koppenol-Gonzalez, Gabriela V, Orech, Bruce, Verreault, Katia, Jordans, Mark J D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1537-4416; 1537-4424
• DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2024.2330073

Mental health promotion interventions are widely implemented in humanitarian settings and low- and middle-income contexts (LMICs), yet evidence on effectiveness is scarce and mixed. This study evaluated the movement-based mental health promotion intervention " " in Bidibidi refugee settlement, in Northern Uganda. A quasi-experimental study including four schools (two per arm) assessed the outcomes of 10- to 15-year-old South Sudanese and Ugandan children (  = 549). Randomly allocated, they either participated in up to 11 sessions (  = 265) provided by trained facilitators; or belonged to a control group, which continued care as usual (  = 284). Primary outcomes measured psychosocial wellbeing, friendships and attitude to school; secondary outcomes included traumatic distress, depressive symptoms, quality of life, physical health, bullying, interoceptive awareness, and irritability. Data were collected at baseline and endline. Children joining , showed significantly more improvements on primary outcomes: emotional and psychosocial wellbeing (M = -1.49, SE = 0.6,  = .01), satisfaction with and attitude toward school (-0.57, SE = 0.2,  = .004); and secondary outcomes: traumatic stress (2.64, SE = 0.8,