The Families First Program to Prevent Child Abuse: Results of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial in West Java,...

Area of Science:

• Child Development
• Public Health
• Parenting Interventions

Background:

• The Families First program is a 10-week adaptation of Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting.
• It was designed for West Java, Indonesia, and administered by paraprofessionals.
• Previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) had not evaluated its effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of the Families First parenting program on physical and emotional punishment.
• To assess impacts on positive and involved parenting, setting limits, and discipline opinions.
• To determine the program's efficacy in a West Javanese context.

Main Methods:

• A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in 20 villages in West Java, Indonesia.
• Caregivers of children aged 0-7 years were assigned to either the intervention or a waitlist control group.
• Data were collected pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and at 6-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• The intervention did not significantly reduce the proportion of families using physical or emotional punishment immediately post-intervention (OR=1.20).
• No significant differences were found in positive/involved parenting, setting limits, or discipline opinions.
• Caregivers in the intervention group showed lower odds of using positive discipline (OR=0.65).

Conclusions:

• Families First did not prevent punishment in a population with low reported punishment rates.
• The program's effectiveness may depend on the setting or participant selection.
• Future trials should consider higher-risk populations or settings with greater need.