Article type
Abstract
Background:
Research evidence shows that parenting interventions reduce child maltreatment. However, little is known about how participants in these interventions (low income settings) perceive these interventions and experience change.
Objectives:
To investigates the perceived program impact of combined skilful parenting and economic strengthening intervention and the processes through which the parents’ experience of the intervention led to change in their parenting behaviour.
Methods:
Participants in rural villages in northern Tanzania were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: (a) a 12-session group-based parenting program that includes five sessions on parenting skills, two sessions on child protection, and five sessions on family budgeting; (b) an agribusiness training; (c) a combination of parenting and agribusiness programs; (d) a control (N = 8 villages, 247 families). Qualitative data collection happened after immediate post-test and was conducted with participating parents, co-parents, and children (aged 10-16) in the intervention arms. Data collection involved 8 focus groups and 51 in-depth interviews (23 with parents, 24 with children and 4 with facilitators). Thematic analysis was conducted with the aid of NVIVO 10 software.
Results:
Majority of parents reported that they experienced positive changes in their families as well as in their communities. They experienced reduced marital conflict and improved parent-child communication and problem solving within their households. Participants discussed the benefits of the economic strengthening component as having improved household income and ensured enough food for the family. Availability of food reduced spousal conflict, ensured improved nutrition and improved parent-child harmony. Participants shared what they had learned with others in the community. Participants liked the intervention content, methods of session delivery and the program
Conclusions:
Building skills of parents and enhancing their economic capabilities could reduce child maltreatment through enhanced marital harmony, improved parent-child interaction and problem solving and improved food security.
Research evidence shows that parenting interventions reduce child maltreatment. However, little is known about how participants in these interventions (low income settings) perceive these interventions and experience change.
Objectives:
To investigates the perceived program impact of combined skilful parenting and economic strengthening intervention and the processes through which the parents’ experience of the intervention led to change in their parenting behaviour.
Methods:
Participants in rural villages in northern Tanzania were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: (a) a 12-session group-based parenting program that includes five sessions on parenting skills, two sessions on child protection, and five sessions on family budgeting; (b) an agribusiness training; (c) a combination of parenting and agribusiness programs; (d) a control (N = 8 villages, 247 families). Qualitative data collection happened after immediate post-test and was conducted with participating parents, co-parents, and children (aged 10-16) in the intervention arms. Data collection involved 8 focus groups and 51 in-depth interviews (23 with parents, 24 with children and 4 with facilitators). Thematic analysis was conducted with the aid of NVIVO 10 software.
Results:
Majority of parents reported that they experienced positive changes in their families as well as in their communities. They experienced reduced marital conflict and improved parent-child communication and problem solving within their households. Participants discussed the benefits of the economic strengthening component as having improved household income and ensured enough food for the family. Availability of food reduced spousal conflict, ensured improved nutrition and improved parent-child harmony. Participants shared what they had learned with others in the community. Participants liked the intervention content, methods of session delivery and the program
Conclusions:
Building skills of parents and enhancing their economic capabilities could reduce child maltreatment through enhanced marital harmony, improved parent-child interaction and problem solving and improved food security.