Digital tools to improve parenting behavior in low-income settings: A mixed-methods feasibility study

Abstract

Introduction: Digital 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 using Afinidata, a comprehensive FBMessenger-based digital parenting intervention in a remote rural setting in Latin America and explored necessary adaptations to local context. Methods: The study was conducted in three provinces in the Cajamarca region, Peru, from February to July 2021. 180 mothers with children aged between 2-24 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. Results: Despite the rural and remote study site, 88% of local families with children between 0-24 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-enroll in case of lost phones. Conclusions: We 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.

Identifying and characterising digital behaviour change interventions to improve fruit and vegetable intake in low-socioeconomic status primary school children: a systematic review

“…Additionally, as the population group is low-income families, issues related to digital interventions causing inequalities or a divide in the population need to be considered. While some studies exist which have found that low-SES families still have high access to smartphones [76], there is a lack of understanding in the current papers as to whether there were any limitations to accessing digital devices or whether developing digital interventions could result in widening inequality in relation to engagement within public health interventions [74].…”