Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial of a Father-Inclusive Parenting Intervention in Mwanza, Tanzania

An estimated 43% of children under five in low- and middle-income countries are at risk of not achieving their developmental potential, with the burden highest in sub-Saharan Africa. While there is robust evidence on the effectiveness of parenting interventions for improving nurturing care and early childhood development (ECD), the vast majority of existing programs have targeted mothers exclusively. Fathers are often excluded from parenting programs, even though evidence highlights their vital contributions to child and family wellbeing.

This cluster-randomized controlled trial will evaluate the impacts and implementation quality of a newly developed, culturally-responsive, gender-transformative, and father-inclusive parenting intervention ("Familia Bora"). The study will be implemented in 33 villages across Misungwi and Sengerema districts in Mwanza Region, Tanzania. Half of the villages will be randomly assigned to the intervention (17 villages) versus control group (16 villages) with stratification by district. The program will train community health workers (CHWs) to deliver the program to groups of 12 randomly selected couples per village.

Familia Bora primarily involves group sessions covering various topics, including responsive parenting, positive discipline, couples' communication, stress management, and gender roles in family caregiving. These group sessions will be held at a convenient community location on a weekly basis for approximately five months.

In total, the trial will enroll 396 couples with young children (i.e., 396 men and 396 female partners). Quantitative surveys will be conducted with fathers and mothers at baseline and endline to assess outcomes, including maternal and paternal parenting practices and attitudes, gender attitudes, relationship dynamics, and early childhood development. Quantitative data will be collected from CHWs at baseline and endline to assess program-related changes in their knowledge, attitudes, and skills. In addition to the quantitative evaluation, qualitative methods will be used to evaluate implementation processes and participant perspectives through midline and endline in-depth interviews with a subsample of caregivers and CHWs, community leaders, and other relevant stakeholders across the intervention villages. The primary endpoint for the trial will be the endline assessment, or 6 months post-baseline.

Following completion of the core Familia Bora program, intervention villages will be re-randomized (stratified by district) to receive either a 3-month booster extension or no additional intervention. The booster will consist of monthly group session and home visits focused particularly on reinforcing responsive caregiving and early learning. A secondary follow-up assessment will be conducted at 12 months post-baseline to evaluate the effects of the booster component and sustainability of intervention impacts on the short-term.