Reintegrating Children Living at Landfills in Burundi Into Society by Means of a Comprehensive Family Program Addressing Maltreatment and Mental Health Symptoms

Reintegrating Children Living at Landfills in Burundi Into Society by Means of a Comprehensive Family Program Addressing Maltreatment and Mental Health Symptoms

Reintegrating Children Living at Landfills in Burundi Into Society by Means of a Comprehensive Family Program Addressing Maltreatment and Trauma-related Mental Health Symptoms

Children living at the landfills of Bujumbura are often exposed to maltreatment, including emotional neglect and physical abuse, and traumatic experiences. Furthermore, they grow up in severe poverty. Addressing trauma-related mental health issues and aggressive behaviour by Narrative Exposure Therapy (FORNET), familial communication by family visits, interaction difficulties of children by a group intervention, poverty by financial support and economic training for mothers, medical problems by medical assistance, legal conflicts by legal advice, and providing access to school, we aimed at reintegrating those children within the Burundian school system and improving familial relationships. The investigators want to provide evidence, that mental health interventions are an integral part of assisting children and families affected by poverty and violence.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Aggressive Behaviour, Parental Maltreatment, Days Spent at the Landfill

Children and adolescents in the intervention group received: A group intervention once a week for about 20 weeks, including psychoeducation on mental health and drug abuse, anger management, roles within families, developing plans for the future, communication skills, sex education. Access to schools and school material Family visits Their parents received training regarding agriculture and microcredit projects, and financial assistance FORNET if affected by trauma-related symptoms, and/or acting aggressive If needed medical assistance is provided If needed legal assistance is provided

The control group was invited to participate in three interviews getting small amounts of money (~2,5 €) as decompensation of their time.

A group intervention once a week for about 20 weeks, including psychoeducation on mental health and drug abuse, anger management, roles within families, developing plans for the future, communication skills, sex education. Access to schools and school material Family visits Their parents received training regarding agriculture and microcredit projects, and financial assistance FORNET if affected by trauma-related symptoms, and/or acting aggressive If needed medical assistance /.) If needed, legal assistance

Change of load of traumatic symptoms measured via the University of California at Los Angeles Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index (scale administered by Clinicians)

27 items assessing PTSD, 4 additional items assessing dissociation on a scale from 0 - 4. Due to scoring rules, total sum score ranges from 0 to 80; sub scale intrusion: 0 - 20; sub scale avoidance: 0 - 8; sub scale negative cognitions: 0 - 28; sub scale hyperarousal: 0 - 24; higher values indicate more severe PTSD symptoms; all items are summed up for the total score

Change of number of aggressive acts measured via an adaption of the Domestic and Community Violence Checklist

Change of experienced parental maltreatment measured via a shortened version of the Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology of Exposure (MACE)

Inclusion Criteria: Spending days at the landfills of Bujumbura Exclusion Criteria: Psychotic symptoms

Currently there is no plan to share IPD with other researchers not related to the institutions conducting the study. If data is shared, the PI will supervise those analysing the date, e.g., students writing their theses