“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 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.

A Scoping Review of Parenting Programs for Preventing Violence Against Children in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

“…J.Lachman et al (2020) found no difference between skillful parenting programs and control groups in violence against children (namely, general maltreatment, physical and emotional abuse, and neglect) and positive parenting reported by children. J. M.Lachman et al (2023) found no pre-post reductions in child-reported maltreatment outcomes (namely, general child maltreatment, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect) or improvements in positive parenting behaviors.…”

“…Of the 22 trials that measured parenting strategies, J. M.Lachman et al (2023), Puffer et al (2017), and Jocson et al (2023) did not find that parenting programs significantly improved positive parenting or reduced negative parenting.…”

“…In some studies, caregivers reported significant intervention effects on violence, whereas the children did not (J. Lachman et al, 2020; J. M. Lachman et al, 2023; Puffer et al, 2017).…”

Feasibility and Acceptability of Parenting for Lifelong Health Program in Mainland China

“…A larger RCT ( N = 296) conducted in the same context indicated an immediate improvement in observed positive parenting and positive child behaviors, and its effects persisted for one year (Ward et al, 2020). In addition, the PLH-YC and its adapted versions have been expanded to LMICs in Asia, such as Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia (Lachman et al, 2023; Mamauag et al, 2021; McCoy et al, 2021). McCoy et al (2021) conducted a single-group pre–post pilot study in rural Thailand using the local public health system and found that the adapted PLH-YC reduced overall maltreatment, physical and emotional abuse, and child neglect.…”