Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41533677›Full record

Trial reportInternational journal of epidemiology2026

Effect of data-collection method on reporting of common mental disorder symptoms and intimate partner violence in Zimbabwe: a cluster-randomized trial.

Victoria Simms, Bridget Kanengoni, Rudo Chingono, Edson T Marambire, Vimbainashe S Mutendereki, Tsitsi Bandason, Celia L Gregson, Claire Calderwood, Leyla Larsson, Rashida A Ferrand and 3 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in International journal of epidemiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Victoria SimmsThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.ORCID 0000-0002-4897-458X
Bridget KanengoniThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Rudo ChingonoThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.ORCID 0000-0002-7061-7861
Edson T MarambireThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.ORCID 0000-0001-5944-5010
Vimbainashe S MutenderekiMusasa Trust, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Tsitsi BandasonThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.ORCID 0000-0003-0066-8345
Celia L GregsonThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.ORCID 0000-0001-6414-0529
Claire CalderwoodThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.ORCID 0000-0002-1926-7464
Leyla LarssonThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.ORCID 0000-0003-4869-4630
Rashida A FerrandThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.ORCID 0000-0002-7660-9176
Nicol RedzoThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.ORCID 0000-0002-9045-2160
Prosper ChonziHarare City Health, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Katharina KranzerThe Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.ORCID 0000-0001-5691-7270

Funding

Department of Health and Social CareGlobal Public Health Research Strand, Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health ResearchNational Institute for Health and Care Research NIHR302394NIHRUniversity of BristolWellcome TrustWellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundScreening for sensitive and stigmatized conditions such as mental health or experience of violence is challenging. Audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI), administered by using a tablet and headphones, may be more sensitive for this purpose than paper-based self-administered questionnaires (SAQ) handed in to project staff. We conducted a methodological cluster-randomized trial in Zimbabwe to compare two methods of screening for common mental disorders (CMD) and intimate partner violence (IPV): ACASI versus SAQ.

methodsTrial participants were health workers receiving occupational health checks at hospitals and primary health clinics. The unit of randomization was a working day. CMD was measured by using the Shona Symptom Questionnaire, anxiety by using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaire, and IPV by using the World Health Organization screening questionnaire. The co-primary outcomes were CMD prevalence and the prevalence of any IPV, compared by arm at the cluster level, adjusting for gender and weekend. Secondary outcomes were the prevalence of anxiety and of physical, emotional, and severe physical and sexual IPV.

resultsBetween 20 February and 10 June 2022, 1240 participants were enrolled in 71 clusters (workdays), with 77.0% female and 66.4% in clinical-facing roles. The cluster-level geometric mean prevalence of CMD was 19.4% when using ACASI and 14.1% when using SAQ [adjusted risk ratio (aRR) 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.99, 1.89; P = .056]. ACASI yielded a higher prevalence of overall IPV than the SAQ (cluster-level geometric mean prevalence 40.6% compared with 22.4%, aRR 1.81, 95% CI 1.40, 2.35; P < .001), of emotional IPV (aRR 1.66, 95% CI 1.27, 2.17; P < .001), and of physical IPV (aRR 1.61, 95% CI 1.16, 2.25; P = .005). No differences were seen in the prevalence of severe physical or sexual IPV or anxiety across the trial arms.

conclusionScreening for CMD and IPV by using a confidential ACASI method identifies more people who may benefit from care than screening by using SAQ handed in to clinic staff. This may be explained by under-reporting on the SAQ. ACASI is a promising screening method for sensitive issues in healthcare settings.

Indexed as

Intimate Partner ViolenceMass ScreeningMental DisordersAdultAnxietyFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultZimbabweaudio computer-assisted self-interviewcommon mental disorderhealth workersintimate partner violenceZimbabwe

Identifiers

PMID41533677
PMCPMC12802919

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.