Battered women and parenting: acceptability of an evidence-based parenting programme to women in shelters

This study investigated the opinions of mothers living in battered women's shelters about the acceptability of programme materials, preferences for delivery methods, and barriers to use of the Positive Parenting Programme (Triple P).

Thirty-two mothers of three- to eight-year-olds were recruited from three shelters in Cape Town, South Africa. These mothers received Triple P tip-sheets and watched a Triple P DVD which described the strategies used by the programme. Thereafter, they completed a questionnaire and participated in a focus group discussion. Basic descriptive statistics were obtained from the questionnaire data while qualitative data were analysed using template analysis.

Participants typically viewed the Triple P strategies, materials and delivery methods as acceptable. Time constraints and living within a shelter were emphasised as the greatest barriers to implementing strategies; no Internet access and financial cost were considered the most significant barriers to programme access. Participants liked both self-directed and group-based formats.

Mothers in shelters are eager for parenting support and shelters provide an ideal opportunity for delivering such support to this high-risk population. This study shows that the strategies taught in such programmes, and the delivery methods used, are acceptable to mothers living in these settings.