How Far Do Parenting Programmes Help Change Norms Underpinning Violence against Adolescents? Evidence from Low and Middle-Income Countries

"...parenting programmes appear to be contributing to the building blocks of change in norms that underpin violence against adolescents, and if expanded, could extend impacts and catalyse a more substantial process of change."

Social norms that lead to the tolerance of violence are increasingly recognised as a structural factor underpinning violence against children and adolescents. Recent years have seen an upsurge in parent education programmes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that aim to change norms and values as a route to reducing violence against children. This article draws on a narrative review that examined the impact of 42 programmes working with parents of adolescents in LMICs. The focus is on 17 initiatives that aimed to reduce neglect of - or physical, emotional, or sexual violence against - adolescents or to reduce child marriage. The article examines the impacts of these programmes and assesses how far they have been able to change norms that underpin violence against adolescents.

Social norms involve shared beliefs about appropriate behaviour ("injunctive norms") and about typical behaviour ("descriptive norms"). Interventions aiming to change norms may attempt to change either descriptive or injunctive norms, or both, and may do so either explicitly and directly, or indirectly by addressing some of the factors that hold particular norms in place. The programmes examined here aimed to address one or more of three types of norms: norms governing relationships between parents and children (e.g., those emphasising parental authority and children's obedience); norms related specifically to permissible violence (e.g., the belief that physical punishment and/or harsh verbal criticism can be necessary for raising children); and gender norms (e.g., stronger taboos in some contexts on fathers hitting daughters than sons), which intersect with other norms and have their own specific effects.

The programmes examined took place in 23 countries, with the majority in Sub-Saharan Africa (nine programmes) and Latin America (five programmes). Children of participating adults spanned the adolescent age range, with ages 11-14 most frequently represented. In most programmes, adult participants were mostly or entirely female; in only one (Let's Talk in South Africa), they were mostly male. Most programmes were meant for the parents of both boys and girls; two - Go Girls! and Creating Opportunities through Mentorship, Parental Involvement, and Safe Spaces (COMPASS) - only included girls and their parents. Almost all programmes were delivered through group classes, held in settings such as community centres and schools, usually weekly. One initiative (Parceria Project) was delivered via home visits, and one (Ligue 132) via telephone-based sessions.

Three main types of strategies were used:

• Shifting attitudes by providing participants with new information and the opportunity to critically reflect on prevailing norms - Example: Qualitative data from South Africa indicate that programmes affected parents' attitudes towards harsh discipline by raising awareness of the physical and psychological harm it causes adolescents and its ineffectiveness.
• Changing behaviour through the practising of new skills, such as positive discipline or communication with adolescents on formerly taboo topics, with the support of a peer group of other participants - Example: In addition to practising talking with adolescents, adult Sinuvoyo Teen participants reported learning tips for managing anger and stress. Adolescent Sinovuyo participants reported adopting similar approaches when in disagreement with siblings, and as a result, perpetrating less physical violence against them.
• Reaching a tipping point for change through organised scale-up and institutionalisation of programmes - Example: Collaborative HIV Prevention and Adolescent Mental Health Family Programme (CHAMP) worked to address broader factors that underpin violence against adolescents.

The researchers found that programmes aiming to prevent sexual violence or child marriage generally focused more strongly on understanding and challenging prevailing norms, while those oriented to preventing physical and emotional violence emphasised sharing information and practising new communication skills.

Overall, the evidence indicates that parenting programmes can be effective at reducing physical and emotional violence and neglect of adolescents, increasing parents' capacity to protect children from sexual violence, and reducing their support for child marriage. The evidence also shows the limitations of relatively short programmes in changing ingrained patterns of behaviour upheld by prevailing social norms.

The researchers argue that key elements of programme design (group-based participatory sessions, formative research that enables sensitive framing, and adaptation of content) have strong potential to help shift norms that underpin violence against adolescents. To fulfil their potential to change these norms, programmes can consider the following strategies for strengthening programmes' impact:

• Widen programme reach, and increase sustainable impacts (e.g., by strengthening social networks among participants).
• Reach a wider range of participants, particularly men.

Recommendations for programme structure and content include:

• Increase programme length.
• Link parenting education to other poverty reduction and developmental activities.
• Expand discussion and deliberation around social norms.
• Invest in sustaining programme impacts.