# Development and Testing of BAJJAJJA: An Intervention to Promote Economic Empowerment and Health of Grandmothers who Provide Primary Care for Grandchildren in Uganda

> **NIH NIH K01** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 2024 · $193,672

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The proposed K01 award describes a research training program for Dr. Schola Matovu, an Assistant Professor
at the University of Utah College of Nursing. Her overarching goal is to become an independent investigator
conducting global health and gerontological research studies to improve the health and quality of life of older
adults with caregiving responsibilities, such as grandmother-caregivers (GMCs). This award provides support
for Dr. Matovu to achieve the following Career Development Goals to gain expertise in: 1) developing and
testing multi-component and culturally appropriate behavioral interventions in low-resourced settings; 2)
implementing aging and health disparities research related to aging, and performing geriatric health
assessment and coaching of community-dwelling GMCs; 3) behavioral clinical trial methodology; and 4)
research leadership and management skills. To achieve these goals, Dr. Matovu has assembled a dedicated
team of mentors and advisors with expertise in family caregiving research (Dr. Lee Ellington, US Primary
Mentor), design and implementation of psychosocial interventions for Ugandan populations impacted by
HIV/AIDS (Dr. Noeline Nakasujja, Uganda Primary Mentor), mixed research methods and behavioral
interventions (Dr. Melissa Watt), gerontological nursing, rural care, and nurse-led health coaching (Dr. Heather
Young), microfinance and social protection interventions (Dr. Fred Ssewamala), economics and women’s
empowerment (Dr. Eve Namisango), and biostatistics (Dr. Xiaoming Sheng).
 There are an estimated 163 million children worldwide who are under the care of their grandparents or other
relatives. In Uganda, social determinants of health (i.e., poverty, wars, and maternal and perinatal conditions)
threaten the middle generation (age 15-49) and leave older adults, especially grandmothers (Bajjajja), to
become the safety net. Yet, in this region, knowledge about effective interventions that support the health and
wellbeing of these GMCs is limited to nonexistent. As such, Dr. Matovu proposes to refine, adapt, and test her
BAJJAJJA intervention. This will be achieved through three Specific Aims: 1) Refine and adapt the BAJJAJJA
intervention components through a collaborative and iterative feedback process with a diverse community
group of 18 members; 2) Test the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of the BAJJAJJA
intervention in improving economic and health outcomes among 24 Ugandan GMCs; and 3) Explore the
barriers and facilitators to (3a) maintenance of the BAJJAJJA individual intervention benefits and (3b)
sustainability of the income generating activity at 6 months post-intervention. This innovative study will be the
first in Uganda (to our knowledge) to utilize a community-engaged approach that emphasizes the meaningful
involvement of community partners to develop an intervention that targets GMCs. Her outcomes will support
her future efficacy clinical trial to test a ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11052906
- **Project number:** 1K01TW012427-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **Principal Investigator:** Schola Matovu
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $193,672
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-26 → 2029-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11052906

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11052906, Development and Testing of BAJJAJJA: An Intervention to Promote Economic Empowerment and Health of Grandmothers who Provide Primary Care for Grandchildren in Uganda (1K01TW012427-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11052906. Licensed CC0.

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