Enablers and barriers to effective parenting within the first 1000 days: an exploratory study of

Adebiyi et al. BMC Public Health (2022) 22:793

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13179-9

RESEARCH

Enablers and barriers to efective parenting

within the frst 1000 days: an exploratory study

of South African parents and primary caregivers

in low socio-economic communities

Babatope O. Adebiyi*

, Tessa Goldschmidt, Fatiema Benjamin, Inge K. Sonn, Edna Rich and Nicolette V. Roman

Abstract

Background: The frst 1000 days is the period between conception and a child’s second birthday. Globally, research

on parenting is in an advanced stage, but parenting research focusing specifcally on parenting in this developmental

phase is limited in South Africa. Therefore, this study explores the enablers and barriers to efective parenting within

the frst 1000 days through the lens of parents and caregivers in low socio-economic communities.

Methods: This study was conducted in communities in South Africa considered low socio-economic communities

in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. An exploratory qualitative research design explored the enablers and

barriers to efective parenting within the frst 1000 days of life. Thirty participants were purposively selected and inter￾viewed in this study. A semi-structured interview schedule was used for all interviews. The data were analysed using

inductive thematic analysis.

Results: Two main categories emerged (efective parenting enablers and efective parenting barriers) during the data

analysis. The main enablers of efective parenting within the frst 1000 days of life include a support system, healthy

behaviours/environment, unemployment/job opportunities, religion, information/knowledge, and professional assis￾tance. On the other hand, the main barriers to efective parenting were low socio-economic circumstances, environ￾mental circumstances, lack of partner’s support, the negative impact of technology, and lack of access to services.

Conclusion: Enablers that need to be promoted for efective parenting range from support systems to professional

assistance for parents. Also, barriers that need to be removed for efective parenting range from low socio-economic

circumstances to a lack of partner’s support for parents. This is because efective parenting is vital in improving devel￾opmental outcomes for children within the frst 1000 days of life. Therefore, there is a need to develop policies and

interventions to promote efective parenting within the frst 1000 days in the communities.

Keywords: First 1000 days, Parents, Primary caregivers, Efective parenting, Enablers, Barriers, Qualitative research,

South Africa, Low socio-economic communities

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Background

Te frst 1000 days is the period between conception and

a child’s second birthday [1–3]. It is the critical period

for disease prevention [1] and the fundamental window

of opportunity for a child’s development [2]. Tese frst

1000 days are especially crucial for the most active period

Open Access

*Correspondence: [email protected]

Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies of Children, Families and Society,

University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa