Effectiveness of multi-modal cognitive behavioural therapy in improving mental well-being among caregivers of children with disabilities in urban Uganda: A cluster-randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: In Sub-Saharan Africa, 41 to 58% of the caregivers of children with disabilities experience psychological distress and have poor mental well-being. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has a moderate effect on improving mental well-being. However, no study has examined its effects among caregivers of children with disabilities at home and in schools. This study evaluated the effectiveness of CBT in improving mental well-being among caregivers of children with disabilities in urban Uganda. METHODS: We conducted a two-arm cluster-randomized controlled trial in 11 schools across the Kampala district of Uganda. The intervention was a multi-modal CBT training program conducted for six months among 392 home and school caregivers of children with disabilities. In the first three months, caregivers received group-based CBT, and in the next three months, they received phone-based CBT. We used generalized linear mixed-effects regression to examine the differences in the mental well-being of caregivers in the control group vs those in the intervention group. RESULTS: Home caregivers’ mental well-being was significantly higher after phone-based CBT (unstandardized coefficient of the estimate (B) = 4.31, 95% CI = 1.18-6.82; P < 0.001, Cohen’s D (d) = 0.27). School caregivers’ mental well-being was significantly higher after group-based CBT (B = 3.98, 95% CI = 0.22-7.47; P = 0.038, d = 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: Group-based CBT improved mental well-being among school caregivers, and phone-based CBT improved mental well-being among home caregivers. Interventions targeting school caregivers of children with disabilities should employ group settings and those targeting home caregivers should utilize peer-to-peer networks to enhance the caregivers’ mental well-being. REGISTRATION: The study protocol was registered with UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR). Trial ID: UMIN000040912.