Combining parenting and economic strengthening programmes to reduce violence againstchildren in rural Tanzania: a cluster randomised controlled trial with predominantly malecaregivers
2020
Introduction: Parenting programmes may reduce risk of violence against children and improve
child wellbeing. However, additional economic support may be necessary in highly-deprived rural
communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, delivering programmes within farmer groups may
increase male caregiver recruitment and engagement.
Methods: A parallel cluster randomised controlled trial examined the combined and separate
effects of parenting and economic strengthening programmes on reducing violence against children
ages 0 to 18 years in farming communities in Tanzania (N=248 families; 63% male caregivers).
Eight villages were randomly assigned to four conditions (2:2:2:2): 1) 12-session parenting
programme (N=60); 2) agribusiness training (N=56); 3) parenting and agribusiness combined
(N=72); 4) control (N=60). Parent-report, child-report, and early childhood observation assessments
were conducted at baseline, mid-treatment, and post-treatment. Primary outcomes were child
maltreatment and parenting behaviour. Secondary outcomes included corporal punishment
endorsement, parenting stress, parent/child depression, child behaviour, economic wellbeing, and
child development (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02633319).
Results: At post-treatment, parents and children receiving the combined interventions reported less
maltreatment (parents: IRR=0.40, 95%CI [0.24,0.65]; children: IRR=0.40, 95%CI [0.17,0.92]).
Parents reported reduced endorsement of corporal punishment (Dw=-0.43, 95%CI [-0.79,0.07]) and
fewer child behaviour problems (Dw=-0.41, 95%CI [-0.77,-0.05]). Parents in parenting-only villages
reported less abuse (IRR=0.36, 95%CI [0.21,0.63]) and fewer child behaviour problems (Dw=-0.47,
95%CI [-0.84,-0.11]). Parents in agribusiness-only villages reported fewer child behaviour
problems (Dw=-0.43, 95%CI [-0.77,-0.08]) and greater household wealth (Dw=0.57, 95%CI
[0.08,1.06]). However, children in agribusiness-only villages reported increased physical abuse (IRR=2.26, 95%CI [1.00,5.12]) and less positive parenting (Dw=-0.50, 95%CI [-0.91,-0.10]). There
were no other adverse effects.
Conclusion: Parent training may be the active ingredient in reducing maltreatment in farmer groups
with majority male caregivers, while agribusiness training programmes may have unintended
negative consequences on children when delivered alone. Locating parenting support in existing
farmer groups can engage a much higher proportions of fathers than stand-alone programmes.
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