Peer-reviewed article
Combining parenting and economic strengthening programmes to reduce violence against children: a cluster randomised controlled trial with predominantly male caregivers in rural Tanzania
Jamie M. Lachman, Joyce Wamoyi, Thees F. Spreckelsen, Daniel Wight, Jane K. Maganga et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study tested whether combining parenting training with economic strengthening (agribusiness) programmes could reduce violence against children in rural Tanzania. Researchers randomly assigned eight farming villages to four groups: parenting only, agribusiness only, both combined, or control. The combined programmes and parenting alone both reduced child maltreatment and improved parenting behaviours, but agribusiness alone unexpectedly increased physical abuse when delivered without parenting support.
Key points
- Combined parenting and agribusiness interventions reduced parent-reported maltreatment (60% reduction) and child-reported maltreatment (60% reduction) compared to control
- Parenting-only intervention reduced abuse by 64% and child behaviour problems
- Agribusiness-only intervention reduced child behaviour problems and increased household wealth, but children reported increased physical abuse (126% increase) and less positive parenting
- Parenting training delivered through existing farmer groups successfully engaged 63% male caregivers, higher than typical stand-alone programmes
- No adverse effects reported except in the agribusiness-only condition, suggesting economic strengthening without parenting support may have unintended consequences
Limitations
The study measured outcomes through parent and child reports which may be subject to social desirability bias. The mechanisms explaining why agribusiness alone increased abuse are not explored, limiting understanding of this unexpected finding.
Abstract
Introduction Parenting programmes may reduce the risk of violence against children and improve child well-being. 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 aged 0–18 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 well-being and child development. Results At post-treatment, parents and children receiving the combined interventions reported less maltreatment (parents: incidence rate ratio (IRR=0.40, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.65; children: IRR=0.40, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.92). Parents reported reduced endorsement of corporal punishment (Dw=−0.43, 95% CI −0.79 to 0.07) and fewer child behaviour problems (Dw=−0.41, 95% CI −0.77 to 0.05). Parents in parenting-only villages reported less abuse (IRR=0.36, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.63) and fewer child behaviour problems (Dw=−0.47, 95% CI −0.84 to 0.11). Parents in agribusiness-only villages reported fewer child behaviour problems (Dw=−0.43, 95% CI −0.77 to 0.08) and greater household wealth (Dw=0.57, 95% CI 0.08 to 1.06). However, children in agribusiness-only villages reported increased physical abuse (IRR=2.26, 95% CI 1.00 to 5.12) and less positive parenting (Dw=−0.50, 95% CI −0.91 to 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 much higher proportions of fathers than stand-alone programmes. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02633319