Familia Bora for Parenting

Not currently recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Joshua Jeong, ScD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Emory University

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a parenting program called "Familia Bora" to assess its impact on parenting skills, couple relationships, and child development in Tanzania. Trained community health workers lead the program, which includes weekly group sessions on topics such as stress management, healthy communication, and nutrition. The trial seeks couples who are the primary caregivers of a child under two years old and currently live together. Participants will either join the program or be part of a control group with no intervention, allowing for result comparison. As an unphased trial, this study provides participants the chance to contribute to valuable research that could enhance family dynamics and child development in their community.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems to focus on parenting and relationship skills, so it's unlikely that medication changes are required.

What prior data suggests that the Familia Bora program is safe for participants?

Research has shown that the Familia Bora program is practical and well-liked by parents. In past studies, both mothers and fathers found the program helpful and worthwhile. Many parents attended regularly, indicating interest and perceived value. No reports of safety issues or negative effects emerged from the program. This parenting program focuses on improving family relationships and communication, which are generally safe activities. Overall, evidence suggests that Familia Bora is a safe program for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Familia Bora program because it offers a new approach to parenting support by being rooted in community-based group sessions. Unlike traditional parenting interventions that might involve one-on-one counseling or self-help materials, Familia Bora fosters a supportive environment where participants can learn and share experiences with others over the course of about five months. This format not only promotes community engagement but also provides a consistent support system, which could lead to more sustainable and impactful changes in parenting practices.

What evidence suggests that the Familia Bora program is effective for parenting?

Research has shown that the Familia Bora program, which participants in this trial may receive, can greatly benefit families, including fathers, mothers, and young children. Studies have found that participants find the program easy to follow and well-liked, with many couples attending regularly. This program teaches important parenting skills such as responding to children's needs, using positive discipline, and communicating effectively, all crucial for a child's early development. Early results suggest that involving fathers in parenting can enhance family interactions. Overall, the program appears promising in improving how parents care for and relate to their children. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Joshua Jeong, ScD

Principal Investigator

Emory University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

The trial is for couples living in the Mwanza Region of Tanzania with at least one child under two years old. They must be willing to participate in weekly group sessions led by community health workers, focusing on parenting and relationship skills.

Inclusion Criteria

Both individuals provide written informed consent to participate in the study

I am the main caregiver for a child under 2 years old.

The two individuals are currently in a marital or partnered relationship with each other

Exclusion Criteria

Need to satisfy the inclusion criteria

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Community health workers deliver the 'Familia Bora' parenting program through weekly peer group sessions and monthly home visits

6 months

Weekly group sessions, monthly home visits

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in parenting practices, gender attitudes, and early child development

1 month

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Familia Bora

Trial Overview The 'Familia Bora' program is being tested to see if it improves parenting practices, couple relationships, gender roles, and early child development. It's a cluster-randomized trial where villages are randomly chosen to receive the intervention.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Familia Bora Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be offered a parenting group program available in their community, with weekly scheduled sessions for approximately 5 months.

Group II: Control Group Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will not receive any intervention.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Emory University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,735

Recruited

2,605,000+

Tanzania Home Economics Organization

Collaborator

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator

Trials

2,103

Recruited

2,760,000+

Citations

1. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560325001112

Co-designing “Familia Bora”: a father-inclusive parenting ... The resulting intervention demonstrates strong potential to engage fathers and improve family-wide outcomes for fathers, mothers, and young children. Building ...

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07025447

Father-Inclusive Parenting Intervention in Mwanza, Tanzania This cluster-randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the impact of a couples-based parenting program, "Familia Bora," on mothers' and fathers' parenting.

3. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41001446/

a pilot mixed-methods process evaluation We found that the program was feasible to deliver and highly acceptable to both fathers and mothers. Attendance rates were satisfactory among ...

4. medrxiv.org medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.16.25334267v1.full.pdf

Feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of the ... Feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of the Familia Bora parenting program for. 1 couples with young children in Mwanza, Tanzania: a pilot mixed ...

5. support-parents.org support-parents.org/countries/tanzania/

Tanzania - Global Initiative to Support Parents (GISP) The government developed a strategy on responsible parenting and family care in 2019, which is now known as Familia Bora, Taifa Imara. It simplifies ...

6. clinconnect.io clinconnect.io/trials/NCT07025447

Father-Inclusive Parenting Intervention in Mwanza - ClinConnect This cluster-randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the impact of a couples-based parenting program, "Familia Bora," on mothers' and fathers' parenting ...

7. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/395696050_Feasibility_acceptability_and_appropriateness_of_the_Familia_Bora_parenting_program_for_couples_with_young_children_in_Mwanza_Tanzania_a_pilot_mixed-methods_process_evaluation

a pilot mixed-methods process evaluation From July to November 2024, we piloted Familia Bora and conducted a mixed-methods process evaluation to assess its feasibility, acceptability, ...