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Testing Family Intervention to Address Mental Health and Domestic Violence Among Women
Sponsor: Possible
Summary
Domestic Violence (DV) is a major public health problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) including Nepal, where women often live in extended, multigenerational households, and violence can be perpetrated by the husband and/or mother-in-law (MIL). DV is a well-established social driver of mental illness and doubles the rate of depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD). Interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can improve depression among women after they exit abusive relationships with DV. However, despite ongoing violence, many young women in LMICs including Nepal are less likely to divorce or separate from their husband. But, ongoing DV severely limits mental health recovery and increases the risks of suicide. This created a need for intervention which improves mental health and reduce ongoing DV, while involving the woman along with her husband and MIL. The study team thus developed a multi-component family intervention and conducted a study to to assess the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of the intervention to reduce domestic violence and consequent depression among married women in Nepal.
Official title: A Pilot Study for a Family Intervention to Address Mental Health and Domestic Violence Among Married Women in Nepal.
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
15 Years - 45 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
258
Start Date
2022-02-24
Completion Date
2024-02-20
Last Updated
2026-10-13
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Multi-component family intervention
The intervention started with MIL-DIL sessions and included first two sessions (four total hours) grounded in participatory learning and action principles using stories, role-plays, and discussions to enhance knowledge, skills, and social support. These sessions prepared participants for subsequent two one-hour sessions on brief behavioral activation, an evidence-based technique for addressing and preventing depression. After completion of the MIL-DIL sessions, the husband-wife dyad received four weekly sessions of behavioral couples therapy (BCT) (four total hours). BCT sessions concentrated on improving spousal relationships, and fostering increased trust and caring behaviors between couples. The sessions also included culturally tailored deep meditation and relaxation techniques. The intervention concluded with a final triad session (an hour) which involved the woman, her husband and MIL, and gave them opportunity to reflect on the intervention and review overall lessons learnt.
Locations (1)
Possible
Kathmandu, Bagmati, Nepal