Supporting Positive Parenting Amid COVID-19

Approximately 3 in 5 Filipino children report having experienced physical and psychological violence, based on the 2016 National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children (NBS-VAC) study of UNICEF and the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC). The majority of these incidents happen at the hands of parents and other family caregivers. Unfortunately, this dire figure is amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, which creates a “perfect storm” of risk factors that increase children’s vulnerability to child maltreatment in the home.

With an estimated 28.5 million Filipino children unable to return to classrooms, parents must provide them 24/7 care while themselves confronting economic stresses, social isolation, and the risks of contracting the virus. Studies in contexts of infectious disease epidemics (e.g. Ebola) indicate increases in domestic violence against women and children. During COVID-19, scientists across the globe have found that parents’ experiences of job loss, food insecurity, stress, and depression, are associated with higher levels of physical and verbal aggression and neglect toward their children.

Maltreatment in childhood has insidious and far-reaching consequences, making it as much a public health concern as COVID-19. The World Health Organization reports that persons who experience abuse are at greater risk for chronic illnesses and mental health problems. Violence against children is also associated with increased behavior problems, poor school performance, and delinquency among youth, including drug abuse and sexual risk taking. The experiences of social workers and counselors bear this out: most troubled kids have problematic relationships with their parents.

Perhaps rather than condemning parents, supporting them is a more reasonable and effective approach to prevent child maltreatment. Most parents strive to care for their children but may lack know-how and experiences of positive strategies. Who among us were ever “taught” or coached to be a good parent? There is now substantial and rigorous evidence, including studies in low- and middle-income countries, that parenting programs are effective interventions to reduce harsh parenting and strengthen parent-child relationships.

Here in the Philippines, UNICEF and Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH) – a collaboration of scientists from Ateneo de Manila University, the Child Protection Network, and the Universities of Oxford, Cape Town, and Bangor – have developed and tested a parenting intervention called Masayang Pamilya Para sa Batang Pilipino (MaPa). Using participatory discussions, komiks to demonstrate skills, and a lot of practice and modeling, the group-based program strengthens parents’ competencies to nurture positive relationships with children, apply non-violent methods to address challenging child behaviors, and enhance family well-being.

According to Dr. Liane Peña Alampay, a Professor of Psychology at the Ateneo de Manila University, the effectiveness of MaPa was tested pre-pandemic in studies with beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), in cooperation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Via a randomized controlled trial, it has a 39% reduction in child maltreatment one month after the MaPa program in comparison to control families. This decreased risk was sustained even a year after the program. Parents who underwent MaPa also increased in positive parenting behaviors and reported decreased in intensity of child behavior problems and intimate partner violence.

Most people consider parenting as belonging to the private domain, yet families belong in the broader social-ecological system. Parents’ caregiving, and by extension, children’s development, is negatively affected by the breakdown of economic, health, and social safety nets during this pandemic. To the extent that we believe the adage that children are the future of our society, then supporting positive parenting now and post-pandemic is critical to societal development.

UNICEF and Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH) urge national government agencies, as well as local government units to prioritize, fund, and implement parenting support programs as part of regular government services.