title: Outcomes of the mental health and development model in rural Kenya: a 2-year prospective cohort intervention study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes for participants in BasicNeeds' Mental Health and Development programme in rural Kenya.
  
  
  METHODS
  All new entrants to the programme in the Meru South and Nyeri North districts were enrolled in the study over a 3-month period (n = 203). Assessments of mental health, functioning, economic status and quality of life were conducted at baseline and at 1-year and 2-year follow up, using a single group cohort design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over the 2 years there were significant improvements in scores on the General Health Questionnaire (21.5 [95% CI: 20.2-22.8] to 6 [95% CI: 4.8-7.2] p < 0.01), Global Assessment of Functioning scale (78 [95% CI: 75.5-80.3] to 94 [95% CI: 90.7-97.3] p < 0.01), summed WHO Quality of Life-Brief scale (39.5 [95% CI: 38.6-40.4] to 57.2 [95% CI: 56.2-58.3] p < 0.01) and the proportion who were engaged in either income generation or productive work (45.3-64.0%, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mental health and development model shows improvements in mental health, functioning, income generation and quality of life among people living with severe mental illness in rural Kenya. The findings demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of integrating mental health and poverty alleviation components in mental health care in Africa.
authors.affiliation: Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, 46 Sawkins Road, Rondebosch, 7700, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Crick
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: Milka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waruguru
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kingori
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kippen-Wood
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Breuer
authors.forename: Saju
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mannarath
authors.forename: Shoba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raja
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D004651:Employment; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008603:Mental Health; D017146:Models, Organizational; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: BasicNeeds; Kenya; Mental Health; Mental Health and Development Model