Research Assistant (RA) for Lebanon - NIHR-funded SUMMIT Project

Research Assistant (RA) for Lebanon - NIHR-funded SUMMIT Project

Full title of the Study: Implementing and evaluating group interpersonal therapy for postnatal depression in Lebanon and Kenya

Short Title: SUMMIT; Supporting Mothers’ Mental Health with Interpersonal Therapy

Partners: The study is sponsored/led by the University College of London (UCL) and is a collaboration between the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP)- MoPH, ABAAD- Resource Center for Gender Equality and the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, Columbia University in the USA, Bangor University in the UK, HealthStrat, Nairobi City County Government, and the University of Nairobi in Kenya.

Background & Rationale of the Study:

Depression is the most common mental health issue, affecting women of childbearing age. 20%-25% of women in low and middle-income countries experience depression during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth. This can be very distressing and affects not only the mother, but also her child.

Research shows that children of women with postnatal depression have poorer learning, or cognitive development, and more emotional and behavior problems as they grow up. This is especially true in low and middle-income countries, where families may also be struggling with many other challenges that can affect children’s development negatively. Many women have very little contact with healthcare services, so antenatal services can be a key opportunity to reach women in need of mental health support. However, currently treatment for postnatal depression is rarely available in many low and middle-income countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a therapy called interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) to treat Depression. There is research from high-income countries showing that IPT and group IPT is an effective treatment but we do not know whether it is impactful in low, and middle-income countries, or whether it also benefits child development.

This study is in line with the national mental health strategy objectives to conduct service research that can inform the scale-up of evidence-based community mental health services for all persons living in Lebanon and promote maternal mental health and early childhood development.

Contract: Full-time Consultancy 

Duration: 1 year

Reports to: Lebanon Project Coordinator

Location: Beirut, Lebanon

Research Assistant Responsibilities

As part of Phase 1, which is a qualitative study looking into Maternal Depression in Lebanon, the Research Assistant is expected to:

• Assist in preparing the interview and focus group discussion guides
• Coordinate and communicate with partners to organize the logistics related to data collection (timing, location, number of participants, duration, refreshments etc.)
• Conduct field visits as needed
• Attend trainings related to Ethics, Data Collection etc.
• Support the training and research of 4 local researchers who will be assisting in conducting qualitative interviews in two research sites
• Perform audio-recorded data collection, through facilitating key informant interviews, focus group discussion and consultative meetings in Arabic
• Conduct verbatim transcription followed by translation of data to English
• Code the transcripts and participate in the thematic analysis of findings
• Support in the development of research project reports and presentations
• Prepare and maintain research project files, tracking and related documentation
• Attend meetings, prepare minutes of meetings, correspondence, or other documentation as needed
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor

As part of Phase 2, which is a randomized-controlled feasibility trial looking into the impact of g-IPT on Maternal Depression, Child Development Outcomes and the mother-child relationship in Lebanon, the Research Assistant is expected to:

• Attend trainings related to Research Ethics, Data Collection etc.
• Assist in the preparation and facilitation of trainings targeting healthcare workers and related to the recruitment of participants for the feasibility trial
• Coordinate and communicate with partners and participants to organize the logistics related to data collection (timing, location, number of participants, duration, refreshments etc.)
• Conduct field visits as needed
• Prepare all related documents related to data collection
• Perform baseline and follow-up (audio and/or video-recorded) data collection, through surveys, observation, and interviews
• Perform data entry
• Conduct verbatim transcription followed by translation of data to English
• Code the transcripts and participate in the thematic analysis of findings
• Support in the development of research project reports and presentations
• Prepare and maintain research project files, tracking and related documentation
• Attend meetings, prepare minutes of meetings, correspondence, or other documentation as needed
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor

Specific Requirements:

Education:

• Master’s degree in relevant area, e.g. Public Health, Mental Health, or Social Sciences

Experience:

• At least 3 years of research experience in public health, mental health, health systems, or other related field
• Work experience with academic institutions, NGOs, international agencies or local authorities on research
• Experience in preparing in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies incl. development of research tools, data collection, analysis and reporting
• Proven experience in performing field data collection and analysis in both qualitative and quantitative methods

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

• Knowledge in both qualitative and quantitative research methods with experience in both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis
• Advanced oral and written communication skills
• Excellent communication, facilitation, analytical, drafting, interpersonal, and organizational skills

Language requirements:

• English (Mandatory), Level – Fluent
• AND – Arabic (Mandatory), Level – Fluent