The Centre for Social Sciences Research (CSSR) and the  Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa  (IDCPPA) at the University of Cape Town invite you to join us for a lunchtime seminar on 20 August 2024 at 12:45pm. The seminar will be presented by Dr. Abigail Ornellas

About the Seminar:

EFFECTIVE PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN FOR $6 PER FAMILY: INTERIM RCT FINDINGS

Background

In 2019, WHO, UNICEF and Parenting for Lifelong Health identified the need for lower cost ways to deliver and scale-up parenting programs. Digital parenting interventions hold promise for extending preventive services due to their lower delivery costs, reduced dependence on human resources, and enhanced accessibility. ParentApp is an open-source, offline-first digital adaptation of the evidence-based Parenting for Lifelong Health programme.

Methods

A pragmatic cluster randomised trial of ParentApp for 4800 caregivers and 10-17-year olds in Tanzania.

Participants received either ParentApp or a matched open-source app with WASH (water safety) advice.

Children were on average 13 years old, and 25% of caregivers were male. WhatsApp facilitation was done by a local NGO.

Results

When delivered in a hybrid format with WhatsApp support groups. results show 76-98% program completion, and 20-38% benefits on prevention of violence against children, prevention of sexual violence, and prevention of intimate partner violence, as well as benefits on parent support of education, mental health, positive and playful parenting, gender-equitable norms and family economic coping. Delivery costs at scale are $5.98 per family.

Recommendations

It is possible to deliver a hybrid-digital parenting intervention to prevent violence against children in a low resource setting like Tanzania, with high retention, strong impacts at one month, and very low delivery costs. Results for 12-months post-intervention will be available in early 2025.

Speakers

Dr. Abigail Ornellas is a social sciences researcher, with a doctorate in social work from Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She is currently a research officer at the University of Cape Town, and project manager of a large scale randomized controlled trial on a digital parenting app, with a particular focus on cost-effectiveness. Her research interests span gender-transformative development, mental health, socioeconomic policy, NGO management and bridging the divide between individual and collective wellbeing.

 20 August 2024
 12:45 - 14:00 SAST
  CSSR Seminar Room, 4.29 Robert Leslie Social Science Building, UCT

Hosted by the Centre for Social Science Research and the Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa