Longitudinal & Spillover Study of Sugira Muryango

Project Summary

In partnership with the University of Rwanda, FXB-Rwanda and Laterite, we will conduct a longitudinal follow-up study to investigate the longer-term outcomes of the Sugira Muryango intervention in families who participated in the cluster randomized control trial (CRT). The three-year follow-up will examine long-term and sustained outcomes of the intervention. In particular, we will look at key indicators of long-term positive outcomes for children such as the transition to formal schooling and school readiness. This study will contribute greatly to the body of knowledge on the costs and benefits of investments in ECD and guide policymakers and government leaders on making impactful investments in children, leading to long-term benefits for the population at large. Given the timing of this longitudinal study, set to occur alongside the ongoing 10,000-household PLAY Collaborative Expansion Study, lessons learned from the longitudinal follow-up can be fed into the PLAY Collaborative, thereby enhancing programmatic impact for this expansion of Sugira Muryango

Measurement & Metrics

The targeted study population are families who participated in the Sugira Muryango Cluster Randomized Trial (CRT) in 2018-19. Family inclusion criteria for the CRT were (a) living in the Rubavu, Ngoma or Nyanza District of Rwanda, (b) being eligible for the Vision Umurenge Program (VUP) (according to the Rwandan government), (c) having at least one child aged 6–36 months living in the home, and (d) having at least one caregiver who was willing to discuss and enhance their caregiving practices by interacting with a home-visiting coach (a community-based volunteer or CBV). Further caregiver inclusion criteria were: (a) was aged 18 or older and cared for child(ren) and (b) lived in the same household as child(ren). We enrolled both single and dual caregiver families to reflect population dynamics. The Longitudinal & Spillover Study inclusion criteria for families are (a) family participated in the CRT, (b) family still lives in Ngoma, Nyanza or Rubavu District, and (c) at least one child who participated in the CRT and lived with caregivers who participated in the CRT for at least one year post-intervention currently lives in the household. 

Some of our measures include DHS/Promundo “Father Engagement & Financial Decision-Making," “Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (5)” WASH module, “Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire” (items 1-24), “COVID Questionnaire” (symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment: items, DHS “Intimate Partner Violence” survey (items 1-36), “Hopkins Symptom Checklist (25)”(items 1-25), World Health Organization “Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)” and more....

We are finalizing our data for publication and dissemination regarding the findings of the longitudinal and spillover of Sugira Muryango. We are excited to disseminate these findings with our government partners and stakeholders.

Publications & Media