Citizen science-based remote parenting support for lifelong health during COVID-19 lockdown and beyond
Macedonia
Overview of innovation
Violence in families, including violence against children, and women are increasing in an alarming rate during COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdown. This initiative will implement and evaluate parenting information dissemination, and interactive learning via facilitated parent-support group-based online discussions using text, audio, video, and visual messages. It aims to provide real-time access to parenting information, and interventions to reduce family violence while improving parent-child relationships and child wellbeing. Evidence-based parenting for lifelong health information (PLH) which are context specific, and culturally appropriate will be disseminated through group-based virtual networks in neighbourhoods. In addition, parent-led interactive sessions, practical parenting and feedback will be facilitated by trained PLH facilitators. This intervention will be evaluated on at intervals (at start, 3 months and 6 months), to examine the outcomes, and reduction in family violence.
This project will use a citizen science approach to support participatory group learning, information gathering, and capacity building around parenting, to co-produce knowledge and feasible solutions to improve health and well-being. The project is currently being pilot-tested in five countries in Asia, Africa and Europe - namely, North Macedonia, Philippines, Malaysia, South Africa and Moldova. By providing access to evidence-based parenting resources and parent support groups facilitation during COBID-19 lockdown, caregivers will work together to device solutions to address violence in families, in their contexts and settings, without high cost of implementation.
The project is intended to reach up to 2,500 families per country in the pilot phase, and double this number in each country in Wave 1; a total of 12,500 families in Wave 1. It is expected to be implemented in most African countries, in the second Wave, and will reach more than 20,000 families.
This project will use a citizen science approach to support participatory group learning, information gathering, and capacity building around parenting, to co-produce knowledge and feasible solutions to improve health and well-being. The project is currently being pilot-tested in five countries in Asia, Africa and Europe - namely, North Macedonia, Philippines, Malaysia, South Africa and Moldova. By providing access to evidence-based parenting resources and parent support groups facilitation during COBID-19 lockdown, caregivers will work together to device solutions to address violence in families, in their contexts and settings, without high cost of implementation.
The project is intended to reach up to 2,500 families per country in the pilot phase, and double this number in each country in Wave 1; a total of 12,500 families in Wave 1. It is expected to be implemented in most African countries, in the second Wave, and will reach more than 20,000 families.
Name of Developer
Dr Kufre Joseph Okop
Primary Organisation
Centre of Social Science Research (CSSR), University of Cape Town
Was this innovation co-created?
Yes
Organisations involved in the co-creation.
Oxford University
Innovation Area/Category
Social Science
Other
Technology Readiness Level
TRL 5 – Prototype tested in a controlled environment
Intellectual Property
No
Opportunity Type
Collaboration
Funding
Research