Evaluation of the impacts of loans for Microcredit clients in South Africa

ISRCTN ISRCTN10734925
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10734925
ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00700349
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
13/06/2008
Registration date
24/06/2008
Last edited
25/01/2019
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Ms Rita Hamad
Scientific

c/o UCB-UCSF Joint Medical Program
570 University Hall #1190
Berkeley, CA
94720
United States of America

Study information

Study designRandomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Other
Study typeNot Specified
Scientific titleEvaluation of impacts of access to credit and loan size for Microcredit clients in South Africa
Study objectivesIf small loans help to increase income, this could alleviate depression and stress among borrowers, particularly for women who experience increases in social and economic status. On the other hand, coping with debt and business pressure may lead to poor mental health, particularly for women who remain obligated to carrying out household work as well. Thus, in theory the sign of the effect of small loans on mental health outcomes is ambiguous.
Ethics approval(s)Princeton University Institutional Review Panel. Date of approval: 14/01/2004 (ref: HSP B.399)
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedMental health
InterventionThis is a randomised study conducted within several cities in South Africa.

The collaborating organisation is a micro-lender in South Africa. Participants in this study were those who were initially rejected by the organisation. They were then randomised to one of two arms:
1. Not receiving a loan
2. Being re-considered for a "second look." Of those in the second arm, 53% were then selected to receive a standard loan for first-time borrowers. Accepted applicants were offered an interest rate, loan size, and maturity per the lender's standard underwriting criteria, involving a 4-month maturity at 11.75% per month, charged on the original balance (200% annual percentage rate).

All data were collected at only one timepoint, approximately 6-12 months after subjects first applied for their loan and were randomised to one of the two study arms. Data were collected from March to November 2005.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measure1. Depressive symptoms, measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), a 20-item questionnaire (0 = no risk, 60 = highest risk)
2. Perceived stress, measured using the Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), a 10-item questionnaire (0 = no stress, 40 = high stress)

Timepoints of data collection: see Interventions
Secondary outcome measuresHousehold income, measured by a variety of questions that asked about all sources of income obtained by all members of the applicant's household.

Timepoints of data collection: see Interventions
Overall study start date01/09/2004
Completion date30/11/2004

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participantsApproximately 3,000
Key inclusion criteria1. Individuals (both men and women) who had applied to a micro-lender organisation and were initially rejected for non-fraudulent or non-overindebtness reasons.
2. Above 18 years old
Key exclusion criteriaNone
Date of first enrolment01/09/2004
Date of final enrolment30/11/2004

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • South Africa
  • United States of America

Study participating centre

c/o UCB-UCSF Joint Medical Program
Berkeley, CA
94720
United States of America

Sponsor information

Innovations for Poverty Action (USA)
Other

c/o Dr Dean Karlan
77 Prospect Street
Room A105
New Haven, CT
06511
United States of America

Website http://www.poverty-action.org/index.php
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/0235ad950

Funders

Funder type

Government

Broadening Access and Strengthening Input Market Systems (BASIS)/USAID (Collaborative Research Support Program [CRSP])(USA)

No information available

US National Science Foundation (ref: SES-0424067)

No information available

US National Science Foundation CAREER (ref: SES-05478984)

No information available

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Financial Access Initiative (USA)

No information available

Princeton University Center for Migration (USA)

No information available

Social Science Research Council, Program in Applied Economics (USA)

No information available

Federal Reserve Bank of New York (USA)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/12/2008 25/01/2019 Yes No

Editorial Notes

25/01/2019: Publication reference added