It is clear that government policies have promoted wide ranging support to parents and that there is evidence to show that this support is beneficial in improving parenting outcomes. In order for people to engage in these services, these services must reach the felt and expressed needs of the population they are trying to serve. This section of the review therefore aims to evaluate the evidence that is available to show what support parents actually value and how the support is best delivered in the eyes of the parents themselves. I will firstly explore the evidence available for each government service previously outlined. I will then look at the evidence to show why parents choose to engage in particular services and what the barriers may be to prevent them from using the support available, such as the format it is delivered in. I will also try to establish what type of support parent’s value most.
2.4.1. Parental Views on Government Services
Midwives:
Overall there is limited evidence that wholly explores a mother’s experiences of Midwives’ support, especially during the postnatal period in the UK. One small scale observational study conducted in a ‘typical UK maternity ward’ concluded that environmental and working conditions, such as short staffing and time restrictions, acted as a barrier to the implementation of breastfeeding interventions.(67) This study was observational, researchers did not seek the opinions of the Midwives or parents themselves and observation was only conducted on one ward. It is however well known that many wards are understaffed in the UK and there are increasing workloads for Midwives, so the results of this very recent study may portray a similar picture throughout the UK, although not fully addressing parents’ views. One study was found to explore the opinions of mother’s experience of the midwifery service. This was a qualitative study, in which 28 obese mothers in Scotland participated in semi-structured interviews. (68) Data analysis concluded that Midwives should be more mindful of the additional factors that obese mothers
may require when receiving care from Midwives. This study did not compare its results to non-obese mothers.(68)
Health Visitors:
A literature review completed in 2015 aimed to examine the public health benefits of health visiting and within this also explored how these services can reduce health inequalities and the effects a Health Visitor can have upon a parent’s engagement in services.(69) It evaluated 348 studies, most published since 2004, and compared the results to the ideals of the Healthy Child Policy.(69) The results showed that when Health Visitors are able to identify the needs of their parents appropriately, across a universal caseload, they have an important role in making parents aware of services available when previously they may not have engaged. Evidence also showed that Health Visitors enable parents to have more confidence about their child’s
development. These studies drew the conclusions that parents are more likely to open up when the visits take place in their own home. Furthermore if they are able to build a good relationship with their Health Visitor parents are more likely to contact them in the future.(69)The author of this review makes many assumptions of how parents feel about the services with limited studies available to support these opinions. Another study found was from Merseyside, which explored the perceived barriers to health and wellbeing amongst European migrant families based in Liverpool. (70) It used interviews to explore Health Visitors’ views, although not the opinions of the service users themselves. The Health Visitors discussed with the researchers the importance of their role in identifying vulnerability especially among low socio- economic families.(70)
Children Centres:
One study exploring caregiver’s views of children’s centres was found. (71) This qualitative study explored the perceived benefits of the encounters between ethnic minorities, migrants and the white population within children’s centres. It found that
migrant parents valued the opportunity to improve their English. An additional benefit not found amongst the white English –speaking population. Conclusions were also drawn discussing the opportunities children’s centres gave migrants, to experience encounters amongst the local community.(71)
2.4.2. Why Parents Engage in Support Services
One literature review and one case control study were found exploring why parents chose to participate in parenting interventions. Out of 12 studies included in the literature review, 5 were from the UK, most using qualitative methods of data collection.(72) In 10 out of the 12 studies results showed that when an intervention was targeted it had a much better uptake response from parents.(72) This is perhaps one reason the majority of NAPR recommended interventions are targeted
programmes. The review also stated that 50% of studies found the most effective form of recruitment was through other parent’s recommendations (word of
mouth).(72) A case-control study in Australia suggests a different trend when it came to recommending interventions. They used questionnaires to compare parent’s
testimonials and resultant uptake, to expert testimonials in 70 parents attending a Triple P parenting intervention.(73) Results were not statistically significant;
however the trend was towards that of favouring the expert opinion when choosing to participate in the intervention over that opinion other parents.(73) Thus the evidence is so far limited, as to what influences a parents’ decision to participate in parenting interventions.
2.4.3. The Type of Support Parents’ Value
Parenting interventions are delivered in a number of different ways which could appeal or not appeal to those who wish to take part. In the UK over 26 million homes have a TV licence and a million more have an internet broadband
connection.(74) There is potentially a large market for media and internet based parenting interventions. Most government recommended interventions and children’s
centre groups are however face-to-face programmes with a facilitator. There are some programmes which can or have the potential to be provided universally in the UK for parents either though internet based forums or NHS websites. This also includes the Triple P Parenting Programme, available through videos and internet programmes at a cost. Research in the USA has explored parental views on how parenting interventions are delivered in an ethnically diverse sample of 162 parents of 3-6 year olds.(75) The strongest preference was towards self-administered delivery formats such as televisions, online programmes and written materials. The least preferred formats were home visits, therapists and multi-week parenting groups.(75) A feasibility study also based in the USA looked at the experience of parents using a web-based parenting intervention.(76) As part of their literature review researchers had concluded that overall mothers showed higher engagements to web-based interventions and also showed greater satisfaction when using
them.(76) No UK based studies could be found, however the NHS along with many UK based privately run websites have dedicated sections to parenting advice
suggesting there is a large interest from the parents of the UK. There are many forums on social media and from observing the activity on these sites it appears that many parents, mothers especially, use these as a source of advice and support. The use of technology could however remove the face to face contact and engagement that attending a parental intervention in a children’s centre provides.
The ‘Zero to Three survey’ completed in the USA explored where parents go to get advice and support.(77) They evaluated a large cohort of 1,615 parents of children aged 0 to 3 years from a wide range of ethnic and social backgrounds. Results showed that the way parents were raised themselves and their religious backgrounds were the most powerful influences on parenting, ranking higher than professional input.(77) There are many similarities between the USA and the UK and results could suggest that family may be an important factor in influencing parenting decisions in the UK also. Unfortunately no evidence from the UK could be found to support this theory.