Reducing Lesbian, Gay , Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Stigma in Swaziland and Lesotho

April 11, 2016 updated by: Carmen Logie, MSW, PhD, University of Toronto

Examining Performance Ethnography as a Lesbian, Gay , Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Stigma Reducing Strategy in Swaziland and Lesotho

The specific objectives of this study are reduce stigma towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons in Swaziland and Lesotho, using performance ethnography at community roundtables.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This project aims to develop performance ethnography approaches to reduce stigma towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons in Swaziland and Lesotho by holding performance ethnography at community roundtables in Swaziland and Lesotho.

This project involved a critical ethnography with in-depth individual interviews conducted with LGBT communities in Swaziland and Lesotho. Following this, the investigators conducted a performance ethnography that involved: a) presenting theatre specialists and PRAs with the qualitative data; b) working together to highlight narratives, themes and visual images from this data; c) developing scripts for participatory theatre performances; d) implementing the theatre performances at community roundtables, with participants completing a pre and post-test and 6 week follow up.

The investigators will implement 2 interconnected KTE strategies in each location (Swaziland, Lesotho): (1) participatory theatre (PT) training/development and (2) community roundtables. (1) Participatory theatre (PT) training with SGM: The investigators will engage 6 SGMY (2 MSM, 2 WSW, 2 transgender) as PRA in each location. PRA will work with a theatre specialist to develop 3 short plays to highlight lived experiences of a) stigma and discrimination and b) resilience among MSM, WSW and trans persons. PRA will undertake a 4-week PT training program, including: PT processes; assessing. Phase 1 data; developing scenes; and production. PRA will work with community animators who will perform the scenarios to protect the privacy of the PR.

The investigators will implement community roundtables are to: a) raise awareness of SGM issues and b) reduce stigma. Purposive sampling will be employed to engage diverse stakeholders. Roundtables, 2 hours in duration, will be cofacilitated by PRA. The aim is to conduct 2 meetings in Swaziland and 2 in Lesotho, each with 20-25 participants, including groups identified as key to SGM wellbeing in Phase 1 (e.g. educators; law enforcement; civil society; LGBTQ groups). Community animators will enact the 3 plays developed by SGM using PT techniques. Plays will address narratives of stigma and discrimination that emerge in Phase 1 among SGM participants. Community animators will perform each play once to illustrate the situation and problem; the story will culminate in a crisis with no solution offered. Each play will be performed a second time, and roundtable participants can 'stop' the action at any point where there is a challenge. The participant that 'stops' the play will come up and replace the character and depict a possible solution or 'intervention.

To evaluate the project's outcomes the investigators will conduct cross-sectional surveys with roundtable participants (n=100) who will complete a pre/post-test evaluation and 6 week follow up. The primary outcome will be measured using the 'Attitudes Towards Lesbians and Gay Men Scale' (ATLG-R) to assess changes in phobia, stigma and knowledge regarding SGM issues following the participatory theatre event. The survey will also include questions about attitudes towards HIV related stigma. Socio-demographic information will be collected from all survey participants including age, gender, highest level of education, nationality, marital status, current household income, type of work, number of children, and religion. MANOVA will be used to assess pre/post-test differences across variables.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

106

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Lesotho
      • Maseru, Lesotho
        • Maluti School of Nursing
  • Swaziland
      • Manzini, Swaziland, M200
        • Southern Africa Nazarene University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Participants must be 18 years of age or older for being able to give informed consent and be willing to complete a follow up survey.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participants who are 17 years of age or younger were exuded for not being able to give informed consent.
  • Participants who were unwilling to complete a follow up survey were also excluded.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: LGBT Stigma Reduction Intervention
Participants will complete a pre-test, followed by a performance ethnography where they will watch theatre performances that illustrate stigma experienced by LGBT persons in Swaziland and Lesotho. They will have the opportunity to participate in these theatre performances to demonstrate reduced stigma and increased acceptance of LGBT persons. They will then complete a post-test, followed by a 6 week follow up survey.
Other: LGBT Stigma Reduction Intervention
Participants will complete a pre-test, followed by a performance ethnography where they will watch theatre performances that illustrate stigma experienced by LGBT persons in Swaziland and Lesotho. They will have the opportunity to participate in these theatre performances to demonstrate reduced stigma and increased acceptance of LGBT persons. They will then complete a post-test, followed by a 6 week follow up survey.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Attitudes towards lesbian and gay men scale
Time Frame: 3 months
assesses attitudes and stereotypes regarding LGBT persons
3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
HIV-related stigma
Time Frame: 3 months
attitudes towards people living with HIV
3 months
Civic participation
Time Frame: 3 months
3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Toronto

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Carmen Logie, PhD, University of Toronto, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

February 1, 2015

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2015

Study Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 30, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 6, 2015

First Posted (Estimate)

April 7, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

April 13, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 11, 2016

Last Verified

April 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • #30344

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Social Stigma

Clinical Trials on LGBT Stigma Reduction Intervention

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Macedonia

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

3
Subscribe