A three-arm randomized trial of a parenting intervention for caregivers of young children in Liberia: testing the added benefits of home visits
Principal Investigators: Eve S. Puffer, Eric P. Green, Rhea M. Chase
Parents Make the Difference (PMD) is a group parenting skills intervention for parents of young children that is being implemented by the International Rescue Committee in Monrovia, Liberia. Primary target outcomes are reduced harsh punishment, improved caregiver-child relationships, and increases in positive parenting behaviors. The intervention also includes content related to early childhood development and school readiness, with secondary target outcomes related to these domains.
We are conducting a 3-arm randomized controlled trial of PMD across 5 communities in Monrovia, Liberia. Conditions include a group intervention arm; a group intervention plus home visits arm; and a waitlist control group. This study builds on our first impact evaluation of PMD (described here) by evaluating impact in an urban area and the potential added benefits of home visits.
Status: Ongoing
Relevant Publications:
Green, E. P., Chase, R. M., Zayzay, J. O., Finnegan, A., Puffer, E. S. (under review). A discrete choice task to measure preferences for harsh discipline among parents of young children.
Green, E. P., Chase, R. M., Zayzay, J. O., Finnegan, A., & Puffer, E. S. (under review). The Impact of the 2014 Ebola virus disease outbreak in Liberia on parent preferences for harsh discipline practices: A quasi-experimental, pre-post design. Global Mental Health.