“Before I was like a Tarzan. But now, I take a pause”: mixed methods feasibility study of the Naungan Kasih parenting program to prevent violence against children in Malaysia
Abstract Background Despite impressive strides in health, social protection, and education, children continue to experience high rates of child maltreatment in Malaysia. This mixed-methods study assessed the feasibility of a five-session, social learning-based parenting program delivered by governme...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15065-4 |
| _version_ | 1811171489024573440 |
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| author | J. M. Lachman R. Juhari F. Stuer P. Zinser Q. Han F. Gardner A. McCoy S. N. Yaacob R. Kahar M. Mansor Z. Madon Z. Arshat F. Z. M. Nadzri N. F. A. Aftar C. Landers |
| author_facet | J. M. Lachman R. Juhari F. Stuer P. Zinser Q. Han F. Gardner A. McCoy S. N. Yaacob R. Kahar M. Mansor Z. Madon Z. Arshat F. Z. M. Nadzri N. F. A. Aftar C. Landers |
| author_sort | J. M. Lachman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Despite impressive strides in health, social protection, and education, children continue to experience high rates of child maltreatment in Malaysia. This mixed-methods study assessed the feasibility of a five-session, social learning-based parenting program delivered by government staff in a community setting to reduce violence against children. Methods Parents of children from birth to 17 years were recruited from two communities near Kuala Lumpur to participate in the government-run program called the Naungan Kasih Positive Parenting Program (“Protecting through Love” in Bahasa Melayu). Quantitative data from female caregivers (N = 74) and children ages 10–17 (N = 26) were collected along with qualitative interviews and focus groups with parents, children, and facilitators. The primary outcome was child maltreatment with secondary outcomes including neglect, positive parenting, acceptability of corporal punishment, harsh parenting, positive discipline, and child behavior problems. Multilevel Poisson regression and multilevel linear regression were conducted to compare baseline and post-test outcomes. Qualitative interviews and focus groups examined how participants experienced the program utilizing a thematic analysis approach. Results Quantitative analyses found pre-post reductions in overall child maltreatment, physical abuse, emotional abuse, attitudes supporting corporal punishment, parent sense of inefficacy, and child behavior problems. There were no reported changes on positive and harsh parenting, parental mental health, and marital satisfaction, nor were there any other significant changes reported by children. Qualitative findings suggested that the program had tangible benefits for female caregivers involved in the program, with the benefits extending to their family members. Conclusions This feasibility study is one of the few studies in Southeast Asia that examined the feasibility and initial program impact of a parenting program delivered by government staff to families with children across the developmental spectrum from birth to 17 years. Promising results suggest that the program may reduce child maltreatment across a range of child ages. Findings also indicate areas for program improvement prior to further delivery and testing, including additional training and content on sexual and reproductive health, parenting children with disabilities, and online child protection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T17:14:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1a27a1af73ea4b949b9427e55f801f21 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T17:14:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-1a27a1af73ea4b949b9427e55f801f212023-02-05T12:26:30ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-02-0123111810.1186/s12889-023-15065-4“Before I was like a Tarzan. But now, I take a pause”: mixed methods feasibility study of the Naungan Kasih parenting program to prevent violence against children in MalaysiaJ. M. Lachman0R. Juhari1F. Stuer2P. Zinser3Q. Han4F. Gardner5A. McCoy6S. N. Yaacob7R. Kahar8M. Mansor9Z. Madon10Z. Arshat11F. Z. M. Nadzri12N. F. A. Aftar13C. Landers14Department of Social Policy and Intervention, Centre for Evidence Based Intervention, University of OxfordFaculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra MalaysiaMaestral InternationalDepartment of Social Policy and Intervention, Centre for Evidence Based Intervention, University of OxfordDepartment of Social Policy and Intervention, Centre for Evidence Based Intervention, University of OxfordDepartment of Social Policy and Intervention, Centre for Evidence Based Intervention, University of OxfordPeace Culture FoundationFaculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra MalaysiaFaculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra MalaysiaFaculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra MalaysiaFaculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra MalaysiaFaculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra MalaysiaFaculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra MalaysiaFaculty of Psychology and Education, University Malaysia SabahMailman School of Public Health, Columbia UniversityAbstract Background Despite impressive strides in health, social protection, and education, children continue to experience high rates of child maltreatment in Malaysia. This mixed-methods study assessed the feasibility of a five-session, social learning-based parenting program delivered by government staff in a community setting to reduce violence against children. Methods Parents of children from birth to 17 years were recruited from two communities near Kuala Lumpur to participate in the government-run program called the Naungan Kasih Positive Parenting Program (“Protecting through Love” in Bahasa Melayu). Quantitative data from female caregivers (N = 74) and children ages 10–17 (N = 26) were collected along with qualitative interviews and focus groups with parents, children, and facilitators. The primary outcome was child maltreatment with secondary outcomes including neglect, positive parenting, acceptability of corporal punishment, harsh parenting, positive discipline, and child behavior problems. Multilevel Poisson regression and multilevel linear regression were conducted to compare baseline and post-test outcomes. Qualitative interviews and focus groups examined how participants experienced the program utilizing a thematic analysis approach. Results Quantitative analyses found pre-post reductions in overall child maltreatment, physical abuse, emotional abuse, attitudes supporting corporal punishment, parent sense of inefficacy, and child behavior problems. There were no reported changes on positive and harsh parenting, parental mental health, and marital satisfaction, nor were there any other significant changes reported by children. Qualitative findings suggested that the program had tangible benefits for female caregivers involved in the program, with the benefits extending to their family members. Conclusions This feasibility study is one of the few studies in Southeast Asia that examined the feasibility and initial program impact of a parenting program delivered by government staff to families with children across the developmental spectrum from birth to 17 years. Promising results suggest that the program may reduce child maltreatment across a range of child ages. Findings also indicate areas for program improvement prior to further delivery and testing, including additional training and content on sexual and reproductive health, parenting children with disabilities, and online child protection.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15065-4ParentingChild MaltreatmentMalaysiaFeasibilityMixed-Methods |
| spellingShingle | J. M. Lachman R. Juhari F. Stuer P. Zinser Q. Han F. Gardner A. McCoy S. N. Yaacob R. Kahar M. Mansor Z. Madon Z. Arshat F. Z. M. Nadzri N. F. A. Aftar C. Landers “Before I was like a Tarzan. But now, I take a pause”: mixed methods feasibility study of the Naungan Kasih parenting program to prevent violence against children in Malaysia BMC Public Health Parenting Child Maltreatment Malaysia Feasibility Mixed-Methods |
| title | “Before I was like a Tarzan. But now, I take a pause”: mixed methods feasibility study of the Naungan Kasih parenting program to prevent violence against children in Malaysia |
| title_full | “Before I was like a Tarzan. But now, I take a pause”: mixed methods feasibility study of the Naungan Kasih parenting program to prevent violence against children in Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | “Before I was like a Tarzan. But now, I take a pause”: mixed methods feasibility study of the Naungan Kasih parenting program to prevent violence against children in Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Before I was like a Tarzan. But now, I take a pause”: mixed methods feasibility study of the Naungan Kasih parenting program to prevent violence against children in Malaysia |
| title_short | “Before I was like a Tarzan. But now, I take a pause”: mixed methods feasibility study of the Naungan Kasih parenting program to prevent violence against children in Malaysia |
| title_sort | before i was like a tarzan but now i take a pause mixed methods feasibility study of the naungan kasih parenting program to prevent violence against children in malaysia |
| topic | Parenting Child Maltreatment Malaysia Feasibility Mixed-Methods |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15065-4 |
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