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ISRCTN
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ISRCTN10734925
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ClinicalTrials.gov identifier
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NCT00700349
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Public title
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Evaluation of the impacts of loans for Microcredit clients in South Africa
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Scientific title
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Evaluation of impacts of access to credit and loan size for Microcredit clients in South Africa
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Acronym
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N/A
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Serial number at source
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N/A
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Study hypothesis
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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.
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Ethics approval
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Princeton University Institutional Review Panel. Date of approval: 14/01/2004 (ref: HSP B.399)
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Study design
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Randomised controlled trial
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Countries of recruitment
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South Africa
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Disease/condition/study domain
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Mental health
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Participants - inclusion criteria
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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
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Participants - exclusion criteria
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None
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Anticipated start date
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01/09/2004
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Anticipated end date
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30/11/2004
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Status of trial
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Completed
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Patient information material
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Target number of participants
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Approximately 3,000
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Interventions
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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.
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Primary outcome measure(s)
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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
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Secondary outcome measure(s)
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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
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Sources of funding
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1. Broadening Access and Strengthening Input Market Systems (BASIS)/USAID (Collaborative Research Support Program [CRSP])(USA)
2. US National Science Foundation (ref: SES-0424067)
3. US National Science Foundation CAREER (ref: SES-05478984)
4. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Financial Access Initiative (USA)
5. Princeton University Center for Migration (USA)
6. Social Science Research Council, Program in Applied Economics (USA)
7. Federal Reserve Bank of New York (USA)
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Trial website
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Publications
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Contact name
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Ms
Rita
Hamad
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Address
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c/o UCB-UCSF Joint Medical Program
570 University Hall #1190
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City/town
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Berkeley, CA
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Zip/Postcode
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94720
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Country
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United States of America
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Sponsor
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Innovations for Poverty Action (USA)
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Address
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c/o Dr Dean Karlan
77 Prospect Street
Room A105
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City/town
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New Haven, CT
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Zip/Postcode
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06511
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Country
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United States of America
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Sponsor website:
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http://www.poverty-action.org/index.php
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Date applied
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13/06/2008
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Last edited
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24/06/2008
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Date ISRCTN assigned
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24/06/2008
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