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Background <p>Through a research-practice partnership, we co-designed <i>Familia Bora</i>, a 15-session father-inclusive parenting intervention delivered weekly to couples in mixed-gender groups to promote responsive caregiving, couples’ relationships, caregiver mental health, and gender equity and ultimately improve early child development. The aim of this study was to conduct a mixed-methods process evaluation to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of the <i>Familia Bora</i> pilot and to identify opportunities for strengthening program delivery and implementation.</p> Methods <p>The program was delivered from July to November 2024 to 62 couples with a child under 2 years across six communities in Ilemela District, Mwanza, Tanzania. Feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness were assessed using multiple data sources: 90 session attendance records, 75 structured session observations, 79 facilitator feedback forms, 167 participant exit interviews (68 mothers and 99 fathers), endline surveys with 58 fathers, and 37 qualitative interviews at midline and 47 at endline with a purposively selected subsample of mothers, fathers, and group leaders. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, and qualitative data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Findings were triangulated across data sources to provide a comprehensive assessment of program implementation.</p> Results <p>The program was feasible to deliver and highly acceptable to both fathers and mothers. Attendance rates were satisfactory among both mothers and fathers. The majority of participants rated the program positively, highlighting its content relevance, cultural appropriateness, and perceived benefits. Sessions on responsive caregiving, economic strengthening, and mental health were rated most favorably, whereas topics like non-violent discipline and fathers’ engagement in household chores met some initial resistance due to gender and cultural norms but became increasingly accepted. Parents valued the mixed-gender group format and interactive materials, noting that these aspects fostered critical reflection and participatory learning. Transport reimbursements were also valued by participants and identified as a key facilitator of attendance.</p> Conclusions <p><i>Familia Bora</i> was feasible, acceptable, and well received by both mothers and fathers in this pilot. Findings highlight the promise of co-designed, gender-transformative, couples-based parenting programs for reducing barriers, promoting gender-equitable program participation, and fostering supportive caregiving environments for child development. These results support further testing of this program through a larger implementation study in Tanzania.</p>

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A pilot mixed-methods process evaluation of the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of the Familia Bora parenting program for couples with young children in Mwanza, Tanzania

  • 期刊论文

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月5日

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  • Joshua Jeong,
  • Valencia J. Lambert,
  • Carina W. Mayombo,
  • Malia Uyehara,
  • Gabriel Sangarara,
  • Julieth Joseph,
  • Megan Louttit,
  • Juliet K. McCann,
  • Damas Joachim

摘要

Background

Through a research-practice partnership, we co-designed Familia Bora, a 15-session father-inclusive parenting intervention delivered weekly to couples in mixed-gender groups to promote responsive caregiving, couples’ relationships, caregiver mental health, and gender equity and ultimately improve early child development. The aim of this study was to conduct a mixed-methods process evaluation to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of the Familia Bora pilot and to identify opportunities for strengthening program delivery and implementation.

Methods

The program was delivered from July to November 2024 to 62 couples with a child under 2 years across six communities in Ilemela District, Mwanza, Tanzania. Feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness were assessed using multiple data sources: 90 session attendance records, 75 structured session observations, 79 facilitator feedback forms, 167 participant exit interviews (68 mothers and 99 fathers), endline surveys with 58 fathers, and 37 qualitative interviews at midline and 47 at endline with a purposively selected subsample of mothers, fathers, and group leaders. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, and qualitative data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Findings were triangulated across data sources to provide a comprehensive assessment of program implementation.

Results

The program was feasible to deliver and highly acceptable to both fathers and mothers. Attendance rates were satisfactory among both mothers and fathers. The majority of participants rated the program positively, highlighting its content relevance, cultural appropriateness, and perceived benefits. Sessions on responsive caregiving, economic strengthening, and mental health were rated most favorably, whereas topics like non-violent discipline and fathers’ engagement in household chores met some initial resistance due to gender and cultural norms but became increasingly accepted. Parents valued the mixed-gender group format and interactive materials, noting that these aspects fostered critical reflection and participatory learning. Transport reimbursements were also valued by participants and identified as a key facilitator of attendance.

Conclusions

Familia Bora was feasible, acceptable, and well received by both mothers and fathers in this pilot. Findings highlight the promise of co-designed, gender-transformative, couples-based parenting programs for reducing barriers, promoting gender-equitable program participation, and fostering supportive caregiving environments for child development. These results support further testing of this program through a larger implementation study in Tanzania.