The Parents Make the Difference program consisted of 10 weekly group sessions and an individual home visit to each family. Adapted from various evidence-based parenting interventions, the program used behavioral skills training to teach content on positive parenting, child development, and malaria prevention. Session topics included: negative effects of physical and psychological punishment and alternatives to harsh punishment; positive parenting skills; how to promote children’s numeracy, vocabulary, and communication skills; and malaria causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment. Facilitators conducted a home visit to provide individualized support, and participants formed support groups to review program content. Intervention fidelity (i.e., facilitators’ adherence to program delivery and curriculum) was monitored by ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ technical and program staff.

The impact evaluation used a randomized waitlist controlled trial design to examine the impact of the intervention on:

  1. caregivers’ parenting practices;
  2. children’s cognitive, social, and emotional outcomes; and
  3. malaria prevention behavior.

A total of 270 families participated in the impact evaluation. All participants completed surveys and observational assessments; qualitative interviews were also conducted with a subset of 30 caregivers to explore their experience in the program. 

Available documents & links