Influence of Culturally Sensitive Parenting Education on Parenting Practices and Child Maltreatment in Ibadan Metropolis

This study evaluated a culturally adapted parenting education program implemented in Ibadan, Nigeria, aiming to enhance parenting practices, reduce child maltreatment, and assess the sustainability of these effects over a 24-month period. Employing a mixed-methods approach, quantitative data were collected from 610 caregivers at four intervals: pre-intervention, post-intervention, 6-month follow-up, and 24-month follow-up. Key indicators included the use of positive discipline, parent–child communication, and reported maltreatment incidents. A repeated measures ANOVA was utilized to analyze changes over time. Additionally, qualitative insights were obtained through 30 in-depth interviews and 4 focus groups involving 32 participants, exploring experiences related to cultural relevance and support mechanisms.​ The findings revealed significant improvements in parenting practices post-intervention, with consistent use of positive discipline increasing from 35% to 68%, and awareness of child development stages rising from 40% to 85%. Reported maltreatment incidents decreased from 42% pre-intervention to 18% post-intervention. Although there was a gradual decline in positive practices over two years, the levels at 24 months (60%) remained substantially above the baseline. The blended delivery model, combining in-person sessions with mobile modules, outperformed the in-person-only model across all engagement metrics, including session attendance, homework completion, participant satisfaction, and knowledge retention. Qualitative data underscored the program's cultural relevance, enhanced parental self-efficacy, and the pivotal role of community support structures in sustaining behavior change.​ In conclusion, the culturally adapted parenting education program demonstrated significant and enduring improvements in parenting practices and reductions in child maltreatment among caregivers in Ibadan. The integration of cultural elements, a blended delivery model, and community support mechanisms were instrumental in the program's success. These findings suggest that similar culturally sensitive interventions should be considered in other contexts to promote positive parenting and child welfare.