e-Parenting for Lifelong Health (ePLH) Pilot study

Project outline

Overview

The e-Parenting for Lifelong Health Pilot Study tested ParentChat, an online group-based parenting programme delivered through messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Viber. The pilot ran in Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the Philippines and South Africa, and supported parents and caregivers of children aged 2 to 17.

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ParentChat adapted content from Parenting for Lifelong Health programmes for remote delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study tested whether parenting support normally delivered in person could be offered online in a way that was feasible, acceptable and useful for families across different country contexts.

Significance

COVID-19 disrupted face-to-face parenting programmes at a time when many families were experiencing increased stress, isolation and risk of violence at home. Digital and remote delivery became urgent, but there was limited evidence on whether online group-based parenting support could work across low-resource and middle-income settings.

The pilot helped answer this practical question. It examined whether trained facilitators could support parents through online groups, whether families stayed engaged, and whether the model could support later development of digital and hybrid Parenting for Lifelong Health tools.

Implementation

ParentChat ran as an eight-week online parenting support programme. Trained facilitators led structured group discussions and shared text, audio and visual materials with parents and caregivers.

The programme covered positive parenting, caregiver-child relationships, non-violent discipline, stress management, child behaviour and family safety. The study assessed recruitment, retention, implementation fidelity, cultural relevance, acceptability and early changes in parenting and family wellbeing outcomes.

Findings

The pilot demonstrated that Parenting for Lifelong Health could be adapted for facilitator-supported online group delivery across six country contexts during the COVID-19 pandemic. It generated practical learning on recruitment, retention, facilitation, cultural adaptation and remote delivery using familiar messaging platforms.

The pilot informed the continued development of ParentChat and other digital and hybrid Parenting for Lifelong Health approaches, while identifying important implementation questions that were explored in subsequent studies.