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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Dec 31;13(1):1836604.
doi: 10.1080/16549716.2020.1836604.

Right To Play's intervention to reduce peer violence among children in public schools in Pakistan: a cluster-randomized controlled trial

Rozina Karmaliani  1 , Judith McFarlane  2 , Hussain Maqbool Ahmed Khuwaja  1 , Yasmeen Somani  1 , Shireen Shehzad  1 , Tazeen Saeed Ali  1 , Nargis Asad  3 , Esnat D Chirwa  4   5 , Rachel Jewkes  4
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Right To Play's intervention to reduce peer violence among children in public schools in Pakistan: a cluster-randomized controlled trial

Rozina Karmaliani et al. Glob Health Action. .

Abstract

Background: Peer violence is common globally, but a little researched topic in low-and middle-income countries. This study presents the evaluation of a two-year randomized controlled trial of a structured play-based life-skills intervention implemented in schools in Hyderabad, Pakistan.

Objective: To determine the impact of the intervention on school-based peer violence (victimization and perpetration) and depression among school children.

Methods: 40 single-sex public schools were randomized into two study arms (20 per arm 10 of each sex). A total of 1752 grade 6 students (929 from intervention and 823 from control schools) were enrolled in the trial. The two-year intervention was a biweekly structured game led by a coach followed by critical reflection and discussion for 30 minutes. Primary outcomes (exposure to peer violence exhibited through victimization and perpetration and depression) were evaluated using generalized linear-mixed models.

Results: Of the enrolled children (N = 1752) 91% provided data for analysis. There were significant decreases in self-reported peer violence victimization, perpetration and depression. For peer violence victimization, the reductions in the intervention and control arms were: 33.3% versus 27.8% for boys and 58.5% versus 21.3% for girls. For peer violence perpetration, the reductions were: 25.3% versus 11.1% for boys and 55.6% versus 27.6% for girls in the intervention and control arms, respectively. There were significant drops in mean depression scores (boys 7.2% versus 4.8% intervention and control and girls 9.5% versus 5.6% intervention and control).

Conclusion: A well-designed and implemented play-based life-skills intervention delivered in public schools in Pakistan is able to effect a significant reduction in peer violence.

Keywords: Adolescent mental health; Asia; corporal punishment; empowerment; gender attitudes; peer violence perpetration; peer violence victimization; school violence.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Trial profile
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References

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