| dc.description.abstract |
Background: Children of street-connected women in Kenya are at risk of child maltreatment. There have been
increasing calls for positive parenting programs for parents experiencing homelessness, however never has one
been implemented with this population. We therefore adapted the evidence-based Parenting for Lifelong Health
for Young Children program using participatory methods, and piloted the adapted program with street-connected
mothers in Kenya. Objectives: To (a) determine if the adapted program was feasible and acceptable with street-
connected mothers, and (b) assess indicative effects on child maltreatment, positive parenting, and parental
stress. Participants and setting: Two groups of 15 mothers (ages 19+, and 20 ) participated between June-July
2018 in Eldoret, Kenya. Participants were eligible if they (a) were the mother of at least one child and (b) self-
identified as street-connected. Methods: Feasibility was measured via enrollment, attendance, drop-out rates,
and engagement in take-away activities. Focus groups explored program acceptability and program outcomes.
Self-report surveys assessed pre-post changes in child maltreatment, parental stress, parental sense of inefficacy,
and positive parenting practices. Results: 70% of participants attended >3/4 of sessions, 10% dropped out, and
>50% of take-away activities were completed. Participants reported high acceptability and requested its
continuation for themselves and other parents. There was an increase in supporting good behaviour (t(21) =
8.15, p < .000) and setting limits (t(18) = 10.03, p < .000); a reduction in physical abuse (t(23) = 2.15, p =
.042) and parental stress (t(22) = 7.08, p < .000); results for parental inefficacy were not statistically signif-
icant (t(22) = 0.15, p = .882). Conclusions: The adapted program is feasible and acceptable to street-connected
mothers, and may reduce child maltreatment and parental stress, and increase positive parenting. Further
research should test program effectiveness. |
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