Digital tools to improve parenting behaviour in low-income settings: a mixed-methods feasibility study

Abstract

IntroductionDigital parenting interventions could be potentially cost-effective means for providing early child development services in low-income settings. This 5-month mixed-methods pilot study evaluated the feasibility of usingAfinidata, a comprehensiveFacebook Messenger-based digital parenting intervention in a remote rural setting in Latin America and explored necessary adaptations to local context.MethodsThe study was conducted in three provinces in the Cajamarca region, Peru, from February to July 2021. 180 mothers with children aged between 2 and 24 months and regular access to a smartphone were enrolled. Mothers were interviewed three times in-person. Selected mothers also participated in focus groups or in-depth qualitative interviews.ResultsDespite the rural and remote study site, 88% of local families with children between 0 and 24 months had access to internet and smartphones. Two months after baseline, 84% of mothers reported using the platform at least once, and of those, 87% rated it as useful to very useful. After 5 months, 42% of mothers were still active on the platform, with little variation between urban and rural settings. Modifications to the intervention focused on assisting mothers in navigating the platform independently and included adding a laminated booklet with general information on child development, sample activities and detailed instructions on how to self-enrol in case of lost phones.ConclusionsWe found high access to smartphones and the intervention was well received and used in very remote areas of Peru, suggesting that digital parenting interventions could be a promising path forward for supporting low-income families in remote parts of Latin America.

A pilot randomized control trial on the feasibility, acceptability, and initial effects of a digital-assisted parenting intervention for promoting mental health in Malaysian adolescents

“…The program is considered acceptable if at least 75% of participants agreed or strongly agreed with the questions provided, aligning with acceptability rates in past studies. 53 , 54 In addition, parents were invited to answer an open-ended question about their overall satisfaction with the program.…”

Digital Support Systems to Improve Child Health and Development in Peru: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…During the test phase, we conducted a mixed method feasibility pilot to test the reach, reception, and use of the Afini parenting platform. Specifically, we (1) systematically assessed internet connectivity in the greater study region, (2) conducted focus groups and in-depth interviews to adapt Afini to the local cultural context, and (3) assessed use over time and satisfaction with Afini in a sample of 280 mothers with children up to 2 years of age and smartphone access [35].…”

“…The region is predominantly rural and has a large share of low-resource and remote households engaged in farming, making it representative of many rural and periurban settings in Andean South America. The majority (80%) have regular access to social media platforms [35]. Communities were classified in accordance with the Peruvian National Institute of Statistics and Informatics as urban (communities with >2000 inhabitants with contiguous and grouped homes forming streets) or rural (scattered or grouped houses of up to 2000 inhabitants per community [37]).…”

“…Afini's educational activities, tips, and content are designed in a fun, simple way and with materials that are commonly found at home. All Afini contents offered to caregivers in the Afini group were developed by early development experts and revised by local experts in Cajamarca [35].…”

“…Such light messenger-only data plans allow users to share information, pictures, and videos on messaging platforms without incurring any cost per message or upload. In our pilot study, 84.4% (152/180) of families owned a smartphone and 94% (169/180) had internet connectivity at home [35]. In this setting, new artificial intelligence (AI)-based ECD technologies using automated chatbots to interact with caregivers of young children seem to be a potentially attractive new option to support parents and their children.…”