Can a programme to support parents reduce both violence against women and violence against children? A pre-post pilot test in Zimbabwe

Background: Violence against women (VAW) and violence against children (VAC) interconnect in a variety of important ways. Parenting programmes may offer promise for preventing both forms of violence, through supporting co-parenting as an avenue for reducing inter-parental context, and for engaging men without stigma. This paper will present results from a pilot study with 50 families of the new Co-parenting Sinovuyo Caring Families Programme for Parents and Teens, which took place in rural Manicaland, Zimbabwe. It is a version of the Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH) Teen programme, adapted to include a more explicit focus on preventing VAW and engagement of fathers for the Zimbabwean context.Methods: A mixed methods embedded intervention design was used to assess changes in VAW and VAC from baseline to endline. Qualitative data included results from advisory board workshops before the pilot, individual interviews with participants at endline, and a focus group with all parenting group facilitators at endline. Quantitative data included assessments at endline and baseline with the primary outcome of intimate partner violence (IPV).Results: This programme led to significant reductions in reported physical IPV, co-parenting struggles, abusive parenting, parenting stress, and teen behaviour problems, but not in emotional IPV, teen-reported IPV, or attitudes to harsh punishment of children. There were significant increases in positive parenting and equitable gender attitudes. These quantitative findings are supported by the qualitative findings with participants and facilitators highlighting improved relationships between themselves and their community, families doing things together and less conflict in the home.Conclusion: This programme is promising for the prevention of VAW and VAC simultaneously.

背景：针对妇女的暴力行为（Violence against women, VAW）与针对儿童的暴力行为（Violence against children, VAC）之间存在多种重要的内在关联。育儿项目有望通过支持共同育儿——以此作为减少伴侣间暴力发生情境的途径——以及让男性无需背负污名化地参与其中，从而为预防这两类暴力行为提供可行方案。本文将呈现针对津巴布韦马尼卡兰德农村地区开展的《共同育儿Sinovuyo关爱家庭项目（父母与青少年版）》（Co-parenting Sinovuyo Caring Families Programme for Parents and Teens）试点研究的结果，该项目共纳入50个家庭。本项目是《终身健康育儿（Parenting for Lifelong Health, PLH）青少年项目》的本土化改编版本，针对津巴布韦的本土情境强化了针对预防针对妇女暴力行为以及推动父亲参与的明确目标。
研究方法：本研究采用混合方法嵌入干预设计，以评估从基线至终期随访阶段，针对妇女暴力与针对儿童暴力的变化情况。定性数据涵盖试点前咨询委员会研讨会成果、终期随访时针对参与者的个人访谈，以及终期随访时针对所有育儿项目协调员的焦点小组讨论。定量数据则包含基线与终期随访阶段的评估，核心结局指标为亲密伴侣暴力（intimate partner violence, IPV）。
研究结果：该项目显著降低了自我报告的肢体亲密伴侣暴力、共同育儿冲突、虐待式育儿行为、育儿压力以及青少年行为问题，但未对情感型亲密伴侣暴力、青少年报告的亲密伴侣暴力，以及对儿童实施严苛惩罚的态度产生显著影响。同时，项目显著提升了积极育儿行为与性别平等观念。上述定量研究结果得到了定性资料的佐证：参与者与协调员均提及自身与社区的关系得到改善、家庭共同活动增多，且家庭内部冲突有所减少。
研究结论：本项目有望同时实现针对妇女暴力与针对儿童暴力的预防目标。