'Tipping the balance'–an evaluation of COVID-19 parenting resources developed and adapted for child protection during global emergency responses.

Publication Type: Journal article
Year: 2022
Author(s): Lorraine Sherra, Helen Mebrahtua, Kasonde Mwabaa, Nisso Nurovab, Angelique Nicole Chetty, Alison Swartz, Lucie Cluver, Kathryn J. Steventon Roberts, and Jamie M. Lachman
Unit: SaVI
Journal: Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2022.2104285
Link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21642850.2022.2104285

Abstract: "Background: Parenting was severely affected by lockdown, schoolclosure, illness, movement restrictions and the many suddenchanges  wrought  by  the global  emergence  of  COVID-19. Responding to the need for a rapid emergency response tosupport  parents  and caregivers,  a  consortium  of providers developed a suite of COVID-19 parenting resources based on evidence-based parenting interventions. Launched in March 2020,these were adapted for online use, with versions in over 100 languages, and the possibility for downloading, radio, and oral provision. A rapid qualitative evaluation initiative was conducted from September 2020 to February 2021 to inform the procedure, understand the impact and to drive future provision. Methods: The evaluation collected open-ended responses surveys(n = 495 participants) and in-depth interviews with parents, providers, and adolescent children (n = 22) from 14 countries andone global source. Data were gathered on parenting challenges during COVID-19 and the utility of the COVID-19 parenting resources. In-depth, semi-structured interviews explored the same concepts and elaborated on challenges, utility of the resources,and recommendations for the future. Data were coded in a hierarchy from   basic,   organising   and   global theme generation. Results: The parenting resources equipped parents with information and practices transforming everyday lives, and interactions. The tips provided prompts and permissions related to children’s behaviour, enabled communications, and offered ways to reduce stress, monitor behaviour and navigate discipline challenges. The timeliness of the resources as well as the clarity and ease of use were seen as advantages. Future direction and possible hurdles related to adaptations needed according to recipient, child age, local context, culture, and new challenges. Conclusions: Overall findings point to the value and utility of this unprecedented global  response  to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results suggest that rapid provision of parenting resources atscale is feasible and of use and opens a pathway for providing evidence-based interventions under COVID-19 constraints."

Citation: Sherr, L., Mebrahtu, H., Mwaba, K., Nurova, N., Chetty, A. N., Swartz, A., ... & Lachman, J. M. (2022). ‘Tipping the balance'–an evaluation of COVID-19 parenting resources developed and adapted for child protection during global emergency responses. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 10(1), 676-694. https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2022.2104285.