Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
NCT00700349
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
Evaluation of impacts of access to credit and loan size for Microcredit clients in South Africa
Acronym
Study hypothesis
If 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
Princeton University Institutional Review Panel. Date of approval: 14/01/2004 (ref: HSP B.399)
Study design
Randomised controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Not Specified
Patient information sheet
Condition
Mental health
Intervention
This 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 type
Other
Phase
Not Specified
Drug names
Primary outcome measures
1. 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 measures
Household 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 trial start date
01/09/2004
Overall trial end date
30/11/2004
Reason abandoned
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. 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
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
Approximately 3,000
Participant exclusion criteria
None
Recruitment start date
01/09/2004
Recruitment end date
30/11/2004
Locations
Countries of recruitment
South Africa
Trial participating centre
c/o UCB-UCSF Joint Medical Program
Berkeley, CA
94720
United States of America
Sponsor information
Organisation
Innovations for Poverty Action (USA)
Sponsor details
c/o Dr Dean Karlan
77 Prospect Street
Room A105
New Haven
CT
06511
United States of America
Sponsor type
Other
Website
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
Broadening Access and Strengthening Input Market Systems (BASIS)/USAID (Collaborative Research Support Program [CRSP])(USA)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Funder name
US National Science Foundation (ref: SES-0424067)
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Location
Funder name
US National Science Foundation CAREER (ref: SES-05478984)
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Location
Funder name
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Financial Access Initiative (USA)
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Location
Funder name
Princeton University Center for Migration (USA)
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Location
Funder name
Social Science Research Council, Program in Applied Economics (USA)
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Funder name
Federal Reserve Bank of New York (USA)
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Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Results - basic reporting
Publication summary