Religious adaptation of a parenting programme: process evaluation of the Family Links Islamic Values course for Muslim fathers.

Q Nasiruddin,J Scourfield

doi:10.1111/cch.12228

Q Nasiruddin, J Scourfield

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12228

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Abstract

BackgroundAmid concern about the reach and inclusivity of parenting interventions, attempts have been made to culturally adapt programmes for specific ethnic or linguistic groups. This paper describes a novel approach of the religious adaptation of a parenting programme, namely the Family Links Islamic Values course.MethodsA small‐scale qualitative process evaluation was conducted on one Family Links Islamic Values course for Muslim fathers in the South of England in order to describe the intervention as implemented and its theory of change, as well as the acceptability of the programme to the participants. The data consisted of 13 semi‐structured interviews (10 with parents and three with staff), 25 h of observation and reading of programme manuals.ResultsA logic model is presented to describe the theoretical basis of the intervention. The programme was highly acceptable to fathers who valued the integration of religious teachings and were generally very positive about their experience of attending the course. Post‐course interviews with both fathers and mothers mentioned some positive changes in fathers as a result of their attendance.ConclusionsIt is important to be responsive to the needs of some British Muslims for religiously credible interventions. This small‐scale process evaluation needs to be followed by a robust evaluation of programme outcomes for parents and children.

Highlights

Cultural adaptation of parenting programmes There is considerable interest among policy makers and practitioners in preventative ‘early intervention’ programmes to improve children’s well-being
Interview participants consisted of five fathers who had completed the course we observed, five women who were the wives of the men interviewed and had themselves attended the Family Links programme in a mothers’ group, and two staff members, one of whom was a senior staff member with Family Links and the other of whom was heavily involved in adapting the programme for Muslim parents (‘Khadija’)
Muslim fathers could be seen as doubly alienated from conventional parenting interventions, insofar as programmes may be seen as unsuitable both because they are secular and because they are dominated by mothers

Summary

Introduction

Cultural adaptation of parenting programmes There is considerable interest among policy makers and practitioners in preventative ‘early intervention’ programmes to improve children’s well-being. Interview participants consisted of five fathers who had completed the course we observed (seven had started, with two dropouts), five women who were the wives of the men interviewed and had themselves attended the Family Links programme in a mothers’ group, and two staff members, one of whom was a senior staff member with Family Links and the other of whom (interviewed twice) was heavily involved in adapting the programme for Muslim parents (‘Khadija’).

Results

Conclusion