SAKHA ESETHU: nurturing value-centered group work for a community-based parent support Programme in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

ABSTRACT

Shared learning and supportive conversations between parents encourages disclosure and cultivates an environment of support. This paper presents the process evaluation through the qualitative outcomes of community parent support groups facilitated by local mentor mothers. Qualitative data collected via two (2) Focus Group Discussions (FGD) with group facilitators was followed by four (4) FGD with a total of forty of the parents from the support groups. During the two (2) FGDs with the facilitators, group values were established and adopted. The facilitators agreed amongst themselves to implement the group values to champion and promote the stability of each parent support group. Three key themes emerged from the four FGDs involving support group mothers included: (1) Awareness of mutual connection gained by attending parent groups; (2) Health and social support gained through collectively sharing knowledge and (3) Improved confidence in parenting ability through dialogue. Findings are a showcase the relevance of the group values and mutual benefits of attending parent support groups. The unique parent support initiative revealed that positive health seeking behaviour could be promoted amongst parents in the Early Childhood Development (ECD) phase using a participatory action research approach. Recommendations and implications for group work practice are provided which encourage the use of group values to enable conducive environments for participation and trust building in community based parent support groups.

KEYWORDS:

• Community group work
• indigenous leadership
• group values
• parent support

Acknowledgments

Thank you to each support group facilitator and parent for sharing and learning with us. The research team from Nelson Mandela University are grateful to UNICEF SA for funding support providing the opportunity to complete this project in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Bay and Amathole Health District staff in the Eastern Cape. We are particularly grateful to Early Inspiration for their involvement throughout the project. The website www.sakhaesethu.com, a result of this study, is open access, provides support group resources and is available to all NGOs working in parent support programs.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.