Context

Parenting interventions play a crucial role in promoting positive parent-child interactions and mitigating adverse outcomes in children. However, reaching parents and caregivers with evidence-based interventions, particularly in low-resource settings, remains a challenge. Digital platforms offer a promising avenue for scalable and accessible interventions, yet there is a need for rigorous evaluations of their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, especially in diverse cultural contexts like South Africa.

Objective

The primary objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a brief digital-only playful parenting chatbot intervention (5-Day ParentText) in promoting positive parent-child interaction in comparison to those receiving an active-control hygiene and sanitation chatbot intervention (WASHText) among parents and caregivers of children aged 2 to 17 in South Africa. By evaluating the impact of 5-Day ParentText, the study aims to contribute to the development of evidence-based strategies for VAC prevention.