Integrating evidence and context to develop a parenting program for low-income families in South Africa

Lachman, J. M. , Sherr, L. T., Cluver, L., Ward, C. L., Hutchings, J. and Gardner, F. (2016) Integrating evidence and context to develop a parenting program for low-income families in South Africa. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25(7), pp. 2337-2352. (doi: 10.1007/s10826-016-0389-6)

Abstract

Children living in low- and middle-income countries, such as South Africa, face elevated risks of child maltreatment. Although evidence-based parenting programs have been shown to reduce rates of abuse in high-income countries, few studies have examined their effectiveness in low- and middle-income countries. Moreover, local cultural contexts may require the adaptation of evidence-based approaches in order to assure program acceptability and effectiveness. This study focused on the systematic development of an evidence-informed, locally relevant parenting program for socioeconomically disadvantaged families with parents of children aged 3–8 years, in Cape Town, South Africa. Intervention development took place over three stages: (a) identification of common core intervention components in evidence-based parenting programs (b) formative evaluation using qualitative in-depth interviews and semi-structured focus groups with local practitioners and low-income parents, and (c) development of intervention structure, format, and protocols. The process resulted in a manualized, group-based, 12-session parenting program that integrated existing evidence of effective components within a local, culturally relevant context. Recommended next steps are rigorous piloting to test feasibility and preliminary intervention effects followed by experimental trials to examine intervention effectiveness in a real-world setting.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Lachman, Dr Jamie
• Authors: Lachman, J. M., Sherr, L. T., Cluver, L., Ward, C. L., Hutchings, J., and Gardner, F.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
• Journal Name: Journal of Child and Family Studies
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 1062-1024
• ISSN (Online): 1573-2843
• Published Online: 22 February 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 Springer Science+Business Media
• First Published: First published in Journal of Child and Family Studies 25(7): 2337-2352
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy