03101nas a2200325   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653002100054653001800075653002200093653002500115100001600140700001500156700001400171700001800185700001200203700001000215700001500225700001200240700001100252700001100263700001400274700001600288700001400304245017900318856006600497490000700563520219100570022001402761       2023                            d  c05/202310aHealth economics10aPublic health10aTropical Medicine10aself-help programmes1 aChoudhury S1 aIlozumba O1 aDarlong J1 aGovindasamy K1 aTsaku P1 aUdo S1 aShrestha D1 aNapit I1 aUgwu L1 aMeka A1 aSartori J1 aGriffiths F1 aLilford R00aInvestigating the sustainability of self-help programmes in the context of leprosy and the work of leprosy missions in Nigeria, Nepal and India: a qualitative study protocol.  uhttps://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/13/5/e070604.full.pdf0 v133 a<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Leprosy occurs among very poor people who may be stigmatised and pushed further to the margins of society. Programmes to improve social integration and stimulate economic development have been implemented to help break the vicious cycle of poverty, reduced quality of life and ulcer recurrence. These involve forming groups of people, with a common concern, to provide mutual support and form saving syndicates-hence the term 'self-help groups' (SHGs). While there is literature on the existence and effectiveness of SHGs during the funded periods, little is known about their sustainability. We aim to explore the extent to which SHG programme activities have continued beyond the funding period and record evidence of sustained benefits.</p>

<p><strong>Methods and Analysis: </strong>In India, Nepal and Nigeria, we identified programmes funded by international non-governmental organisations, primarily aimed at people affected by leprosy. In each case, financial and technical support was allocated for a predetermined period (up to 5 years).We will review documents, including project reports and meeting minutes, and conduct semistructured interviews with people involved in delivery of the SHG programme, potential beneficiaries and people in the wider environment who may have been familiar with the programme. These interviews will gauge participant and community perceptions of the programmes and barriers and facilitators to sustainability. Data will be analysed thematically and compared across four study sites.</p>

<p><strong>Ethics and Dissemination: </strong>Approval was obtained from the University of Birmingham Biomedical and Scientific Research Ethics Committee. Local approval was obtained from: The Leprosy Mission Trust India Ethics Committee; Federal Capital Territory Health Research Ethics Committee in Nigeria and the Health Research Ethics Committee of Niger State Ministry of Health; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital and the Nepal Health and Research Council. Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations and community engagement events through the leprosy missions.</p>
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