Parenting Beliefs & Practices in Bhutan and Rwanda, FHI 360

• In Event: Beliefs & Practices on Play in Bhutan & Rwanda 

Proposal

This presentation will draw the implementation research on the scaling up of parenting programs in Bhutan and Rwanda, conducted by FHI 360 as part of the LEGO Foundation’s Playful Parenting portfolio. Parenting programs around the world rely on a diverse set of local actors to deliver messaging and support to caregivers of young children, with the goal of shifting norms and practices around parenting to include play and communication as a core and integral part of child development. In many parts of the world, parenting programs also work on changing traditional gender roles and engaging male caregivers (fathers, grandfathers, other relatives) in the work of raising a child from birth, alongside the mother. In Bhutan and Rwanda, two organizations have engaged two radically different types of frontline providers: health paraprofessionals linked to district health clinics, in Bhutan, and “Family Friend” village-level volunteers linked to district offices for family and social protection in Rwanda. The modalities of engaging parents also differ, from home visits in Rwanda to group sessions at primary health clinics in Bhutan (with Covid adaptations in the form of individual sessions).

The presentation will draw on several data sources to draw parallels and distinctions between the two contexts. For the beliefs and practices of frontline providers of parenting services – such as village volunteers visiting families or paraprofessionals leading counseling sessions, the paper will draw on 1) provider surveys, administered twice a year to new cohorts of trained providers in each country, 2) knowledge of child development, as part of the survey, 3) in-depth interviews with providers, and 4) observations of sessions with parents, in which they engage families in discussions of play and communication. The surveys offer a glimpse into the routines of providers, with information on how many families they support, their levels of engagement, the resources and supervision they received, and their level of motivation. The observation data will show the level and quality of engagement of providers with caregivers, and the way that providers reinforce the importance of play and stimulation with young children.

For the beliefs and practices of caregivers, the paper will draw on caregiver surveys in each country, particularly around play and stimulation; as well as observation data on the caregiver and child interaction.

Authors

• Karma Choden, FHI 360

• Frances Aboud, McGill University

• Carina Omoeva, FHI 360

• Michael Tusiime, University of Rwanda

• Rafael Eduardo Contreras Gomez, FHI 360

• Rachel M Hatch, FHI 360