Can a programme to support parents reduce both violence against women and violence against children? A pre-post pilot test in Zimbabwe.

Introduction

Violence against women (VAW) and violence against children (VAC) interconnect in a variety of important ways. Parenting programmes may offer promise for preventing both forms of violence, through supporting co-parenting as an avenue for reducing inter-parental conflict, and for engaging men without stigma. Method: This paper presents results from a pilot study with 50 families of the new Co-parenting Sinovuyo Caring Families Programme for Parents and Teens, which took place in rural Manicaland, Zimbabwe. It is a version of the Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH) Teen programme, adapted to include a more explicit focus on preventing VAW and the engagement of fathers for the Zimbabwean context. A mixed methods embedded intervention design was used to assess changes in VAW and VAC from baseline to endline. Qualitative data included discussions with participant advisory boards before the pilot, individual interviews with participants at the endline, and a focus group discussion with all parenting group facilitators at the endline. Quantitative data included assessments at the endline and baseline with the primary outcome of intimate partner violence (IPV).

Results

This programme led to significant reductions in reported physical IPV, co-parenting struggles, harsh parenting, parenting stress, and teen behaviour problems, but not in emotional IPV, teen-reported IPV, or attitudes to harsh punishment of children. There were significant increases in positive parenting and equitable gender attitudes. These quantitative findings are supported by the qualitative findings with participants and facilitators highlighting improved relationships between themselves and their community, families doing things together and less conflict in the home.

Conclusion

This programme is promising for the prevention of VAW and VAC simultaneously.