Community Mobilization Research Articles

Planned stitching, practical suturing: assembling community voices and mobilisation across difference in Johannesburg’s corridors of freedom

The City of Johannesburg’s Corridors of Freedom (CoF), launched in 2013, were intended to cut across the economically and racially divided city using infrastructure and interventions in the built environment around new transport nodes. Undertaken in haste for political reasons and projected to be delivered as swiftly as possible, those driving this mega project oversaw substantial consultation exercises, but provided relatively few spaces for direct engagement to shape the project. This paper presents the experiences of a team of engaged-researchers, a long-standing NGO in partnership with University-based scholars jointly investigating the CoF development process. Interested in the ways in which the CoF initiative sought to ‘stitch’ the city together, our contribution to the project was to engage with different communities, clarify their different experiences with participation in the Corridors development and explore the possibility of collaboration across these different communities. Using the conceptual framework of stitching and suturing, the paper, in two parts, interrogates the roles that engaged partners can have in complex and diverse communities and our ability to support engagement. We reveal the limitations of engaged research when faced with political and institutional cycles that do not synchronise with the research projects, and point to the cleavages and disruptions that result when the local state does not systematically incorporate the needs and lived realities of its residents.

Exploring Synergies Between Community Mobilisation and Cash Transfers in Bangladesh

This article presents insights from the Child Labour: Action-Research-Innovation in South and South-Eastern Asia (CLARISSA) social protection cash plus intervention in a low‑income neighbourhood in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Adopting a novel methodology, we use community mobilisers’ monthly narrative reports, so-called ‘micronarratives’, to understand synergies between implementation and outcomes of community mobilisation activities (the ‘plus’) and cash transfers. We find that households face many intersecting problems, including health issues, low income, and indebtedness, and community mobilisation lays a foundation for households to be heard and become more resilient in the face of these problems. The introduction of cash transfers facilitated individuals and households to act on the advice and ideas offered by the community mobilisers. Households became more willing to speak with community mobilisers even when they explained that the cash transfer was unconditional on their counselling service. Some households started income-generating activities with their savings.

3.F. Round table: Legal action & capacity building: essential for climate action to protect and promote public health

Abstract The climate crisis is the single biggest threat to global health, peace and security, a crisis multiplier, and a significant driver of health inequalities within and between countries. In many areas of public health policy, legal action and litigation have delivered significant and long-lasting impacts. Court action is a strong domain of legal policy and practice to address climate change and related air pollution in many countries, and increasingly in international courts and tribunals. Examples include the 2021 landmark UK Coroners Report on the asthma-related death of Ella Kissi-Debrah, the 2023 UN General Assembly Request for an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice on states’ obligations to address climate change, and the 2024 European Court of Human Rights decision in Klimanseniorinnen v. Switzerland. Climate litigation also creates opportunities for public scrutiny and debate by raising awareness of inaction or harm caused by governments or private sector polluters, generating wider community mobilisation for action. Since 2021, the EUPHA Law and Public Health Section, Faculty of Public Health (UK), Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health, Global Network for Academic Public Health, ASPHER and other partners have collaborated to build ethicolegal competence and capacity of public health professionals for climate action. Initiatives have also included research, advocacy, and resource development, and exploring opportunities for legal action and litigation, including at the International Conference on Strategic Litigation and Public Health (Liverpool, 2023). The roundtable will present key findings from an evaluation of the course on climate change organised by the ASPHER and the Global Consortium on Health and Climate Education (GCHCE), and learnings and feedback from the publication ‘From analysis to action: climate change litigation. A guide for public health professionals’, which was launched at the 16th European Public Health Conference. The expert panel will also reflect on whether the nature of current educational materials, means and methods in curriculum and training initiatives are effective, appropriate, adequate, and sufficient. Should climate change be part of One Health and Planetary Health programmes rather than a distinct entity? What is the role of, and what are the opportunities for, public health professionals to be engaged in climate litigation? What are the gaps and opportunities through strategic networking with environmental and legal experts, and affected communities? The roundtable will be interactive and invite input and insights from the participants to explore opportunities to further advance the agenda. Key messages • Public health professionals have a key and increasing role in climate law and litigation: interdisciplinary collaboration is essential. • Public health professionals have multiple avenues for capacity building on opportunities to address climate and environmental impacts on public health through law. Speakers/Panelists David Patterson University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands Farhang Tahzib Faculty of Public Health, Haywards heath, UK Liz Green Public Health Wales, Wrexham, UK Ana-Catarina Pinho-Gomes University College London, London, UK

Legal perspectives on climate change and inequalities

Abstract In many areas of public health policy, litigation has delivered significant, long-lasting impacts. Examples include tobacco control, increasing access to treatments for HIV, and addressing air pollution and climate change. Litigation is an established part of public health’s advocacy toolbox in national courts, and increasingly in international courts and tribunals. In responding to climate change, in addition to potential policy and law reform, climate change litigation creates opportunities for public scrutiny and debate by raising awareness of inaction or harm caused by governments or private sector polluters, and sparking wider community mobilisation for climate action. Where climate change litigation is based on human rights claims, credible science-based evidence of the health and other human rights impacts of climate change is essential. Public health professionals are increasingly involved in assembling and presenting such evidence, often focusing on vulnerable populations. However, the multiple intersecting identities of vulnerable populations have not been sufficiently explored. For example, how does intersectional disadvantage influence the ways in which evidence of the impact of climate change is assembled and assessed? How are these issues addressed in the courts? Examples include older women (KlimaSeniorinnen v. Switzerland), young people, from both the global South and global North, in urban or remote areas, or with different pre-existing health conditions (Sacchi et al. v. Argentina et al), and Indigenous people, including women and children (Daniel Billy and others v. Australia; Teitiota and others v. New Zealand). Multiple identities can compound vulnerability. For example, young people may be more vulnerable both due to their physical immaturity and due to eco-anxiety and other mental health impacts. This presentation will explore these issues, and the critical role of public health professionals in legal action to address climate change.

The Critical Role of the 4th “P”: Addressing the Impact of “Otherness” on Human Trafficking Prevention Efforts

ABSTRACT Prevention is the key to reducing human trafficking prevalence, and awareness-raising campaigns are the most common form of trafficking intervention; however, there is little evidence that these activities translate to actions that prevent human trafficking. The “otherness” issue – the belief that human trafficking is a problem for “other” communities but not a problem within one’s own community – has been identified as a potential barrier to effective human trafficking prevention interventions. In this article, we unpack the “otherness” issue and build on Todres (2009) “otherness-aware” framework to develop a theoretical model for understanding otherness within the context of human trafficking prevention interventions. Drawing on evidence from public health, we discuss the community mobilization intervention framework, which is centered on partnership and community engagement, as a potentially useful strategy for addressing the “otherness” issue and improving the effectiveness of human trafficking prevention interventions. We conclude that meaningful partnership with communities is a key to developing contextually relevant, community-empowering approaches to prevent human trafficking. This article has implications for achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, which aims to support inclusive communities through targets such as reducing violence, ending human trafficking and amplifying developing countries’ participation in global decision-making.

Community Mobilisation for Human Sample Collection in Sensitive Communities: Experiences from Granular Mapping of Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Ekiti State, South West, Nigeria

Community mobilisation is a vital process for raising awareness and increasing participation in healthcare interventions, research, and programmes that require human sample collection and mass management. In this report, we present the community mobilisation approach undertaken for the implementation of the operational mapping and assessment of granular schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The mobilisation was conducted in 177 communities/wards of the 16 local government areas. A total of 15,340 urine and stool samples were collected in 34 days. The efficacy and success of the strategy were evaluated through the following three performance metrics: community compliance rate, the participant response rate at the community level, and the overall compliance response rate of the four most sensitive LGAs. Community compliance was 93.7% as sample collection was denied in nine communities and two other communities demanded the return of the collected samples despite our mobilisation effort because of cultural bias and myths that connect the collection of stool and urine samples to ritual activities in the local context. The participant response rate at the community level was 86.7%. Three of the four sensitive LGAs (based on previous assessment programmes) demonstrated satisfactory compliance rates of 100%, while a response rate of 64.0% was computed for one of the LGAs. We believe our approach contributed to effective community mobilisation and awareness and that the developed model has the potential to improve participation rates in large healthcare assessments and intervention programmes.

Preparing for the Implementation of Long-Acting Injectable Cabotegravir for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Within the Brazilian Public Health System (ImPrEP CAB Brasil): Qualitative Study.

Although long-acting, injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has proven efficacious for HIV prevention in clinical trials, research is needed to guide effective implementation in real-world settings. Formative work with community members and health care providers (HCPs) is important to provide insight into the needs and contexts of specific populations and reveal potential barriers and facilitators for implementation projects. We aimed to describe the results from formative work to develop an implementation package for CAB-LA PrEP within the ImPrEP CAB Brasil study. ImPrEP CAB Brasil is an implementation study of same-day delivery of CAB-LA PrEP for young sexual and gender minority (SGM) groups (aged 18-30 years) in 6 existing oral PrEP public health clinics. We conducted formative research to prepare for the implementation of ImPrEP CAB Brasil through community mobilization, process mapping with HCPs with experience in CAB-LA, and focus group discussions (FGDs) with young SGM groups (n=92) and HCPs (n=20) to identify initial perceptions of facilitators and barriers for CAB-LA PrEP implementation, refine the mobile health (mHealth) educational tool, and evaluate the acceptability of using a text message appointment reminder intervention through WhatsApp. FGDs were recorded, transcribed, systematically coded, and analyzed with thematic categorization by trained researchers using a qualitative data analysis program ATLAS.ti (version 7). A community mobilization team comprising 34 SGM community leaders collaborated in creating a prototype for an mHealth educational tool and contributed to the planning of peer education activities. We created 3 process maps for each site to describe the initial visit, follow-up visits, and laboratory flow. The main challenge identified for same-day CAB-LA PrEP delivery was the extended duration of clinic visits due to the numerous laboratory tests and HIV counseling steps required. Proposed solutions included having point-of-care HIV rapid tests instead of laboratory tests and additional counseling staff. Barriers for CAB-LA PrEP implementation identified through FGDs were the training of HCPs, support for adherence to injection appointments, and stigma or discrimination against SGM groups and persons using PrEP. The mHealth educational tool and WhatsApp reminders were highly acceptable by SGM groups and HCPs, indicating their potential to support PrEP choice and adherence. Content analysis on the cultural appropriateness of the language and overall clarity of the material contributed to the refinement of the mHealth tool. Structured formative work with SGM persons and HCPs generated important refinements to context-specific materials and plans to launch ImPrEP CAB Brasil in public health clinics. Ongoing implementation monitoring will use the process maps to identify additional barriers and potential solutions to same-day delivery of CAB-LA PrEP. Summative evaluations are needed to measure the effectiveness of the mHealth educational tool to support PrEP choice and the use of WhatsApp appointment reminders.

A GESTÃO DA CAPACITAÇÃO DO AGENTE COMUNITÁRIO DE SAÚDE NA ATENÇÃO BÁSICA COM AS ESPECIFICIDADES DA GESTÃO PÚBLICA

The article analyzes the management of training for Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Primary Care, focusing on strategies to promote the continuous improvement of these professionals' competencies. It highlights the relevance of CHWs, who act as a link between the community and health services, contributing to disease prevention and the promotion of educational and community mobilization actions. The research was conducted through a bibliographic and qualitative review, addressing the impact of investment in CHW training to strengthen Primary Care. Continuous training is presented as essential for ensuring comprehensive and humanized care, enabling CHWs to work more effectively and adapt to the specific needs of communities. It concludes that investment in qualification is indispensable for the consolidation of the Unified Health System (SUS), enhancing health actions and improving the indicators of the populations served.

Commodity association’s roles and determinants of farmers’ participation in their climate change adaptation activities in Sierra Leone

ABSTRACT This paper examined the commodity association’s roles and determinants of farmers’ participation in climate change adaptation in Sierra Leone. The three most prominent commodity associations were purposively selected due to membership size and the diversity of services rendered to members, which was followed by random selection of elected leaders to give a sample size of 140. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data and subjected to percentages and Probit regression analysis. The results show that the majority of the respondents across the crop, fishery and livestock commodity associations are middle-aged, male, with no formal education, married, high awareness of climate change, high incidence of climate change activities and low socioeconomic status. The use of community radios to present programs on climate adaptation techniques to members across different commodity associations is the most prominent activity (55.67%). Other major prominent climate adaptation activities of commodity associations are community mobilisation (53%), community seed multiplication (52.33%), diversification of livelihoods (50.67%) and workshops (50%). The determinants of participation in community associations’ climate adaptation activities are age, gender, socioeconomic status, education, socioeconomic status, climate change incidence, farming system factors and climate change awareness. The commodity associations are thus enhancing climate adaptation through services and activities to their members.

Community Mobilization to Guide the Public Health Response During the 2022 Ontario Mpox Outbreak: A Brief Report.

The 2022 mpox epidemic predominantly affected gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM). Led by a provincial community program and co-galvanized by clinician-researchers, GBM community leaders in Ontario coordinated a robust response, representing a reproducible strategy for community engagement and mobilization during future epidemics.

Using historical catch flexibility and fishing ground mobility as measures of the adaptive capacity of fishing communities to future ocean change

Abstract Changing ocean characteristics, moving species, and competing ocean uses challenge fishing communities reliant on marine resources. Many communities have diversified what they catch, or where they fish to cope with variation in availability of fish. However, we often lack understanding of the frequency of these adaptation strategies in response to historical variability. Here, we quantitatively evaluate catch flexibility, catch switching, and fishing ground mobility of Communities at Sea (CaS) in the Northeast USA. CaS capacity to change catch composition or shift fishing grounds differed by gear type and with regional drivers. Dredge was highly mobile but species selective, and groundfish trawl either altered their catch or shifted fishing grounds. Lobster and shrimp trawl CaS were largely unable to take advantage of either strategy, while fleets using other pots and traps did both. Differences within gear types often reflected distinct regional strategies in dealing with the loss of target species from historical fishing grounds. Overall, adaptive capacity for a port reflects its portfolio of fleets as well as shared constraints and opportunities of their home port. Understanding the degree to which fishing communities have adapted to historical variability can help prioritize efforts to enhance adaptive capacity for future ocean change.

Toddler Posyandu Cadres Supporting Stunting-Free Villages

Background: Posyandu (integrated health service posts) are vital for maternal and child health. Specific Background: This study explores the role of Posyandu cadres in health promotion and community empowerment in a local village. Knowledge Gap: Previous research has highlighted the importance of these cadres, but their contributions to community mobilization and stunting prevention remain underexplored. Aims: The research aims to examine the functions of Posyandu cadres in health education and community engagement. Results: Findings indicate that cadres act primarily as health educators and community mobilizers, utilizing tools like the KIA (Child Identity Card) and KMS (Healthy Growth Monitoring Card) for health information dissemination. However, their active involvement and local capacity-building efforts need improvement. Novelty: This study offers new insights into the operational challenges faced by Posyandu cadres in promoting health and preventing stunting. Implications: It emphasizes the need for training and support for cadres to enhance their effectiveness, ultimately contributing to healthier communities and reducing stunting rates. Highlights : Roles of Cadres: Primarily function as health educators and community mobilizers. Utilization of Tools: Employ KIA and KMS for effective health information dissemination. Need for Improvement: Highlight the necessity for enhanced training and active community involvement. Keywords: Posyandu, health promotion, community empowerment, stunting prevention, cadres.

Male involvement in antenatal care and associated factors among married men with wives who recently gave birth in Debre Tabor town, North West Ethiopia

BackgroundGlobally, maternal mortality remains a critical issue, with male involvement during antenatal care (ANC) recognized as pivotal in reducing maternal deaths. Limited evidence on male involvement exists in low and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess male involvement during antenatal care and associated factors among married men whose wives gave birth within the last 6 months in Debretabor town, North West Ethiopia in 2023.ObjectiveEvaluate the level of male involvement during antenatal care and identify associated factors in the specified study area.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study involved 404 married men, whose wives had given birth within the past 6 months in Debretabor town. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews, entered into EpiData version 4.6, and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Logistic regression analyses determined associations.ResultsMale involvement during antenatal care in the study area was 46.8% (CI: 41.6, 51.5). Factors influencing involvement included men's attitude (AOR = 2.365), lack of male invitation to the examination room (AOR = 0.370), couples' living status (AOR = 4.461), men with secondary education (AOR = 4.052), men with diploma and above (AOR = 4.276), and complications during pregnancy (AOR = 6.976).Conclusion and recommendationThe observed low level of male involvement underscores the need for targeted interventions. Stakeholders should promote male participation through counseling, community mobilization, and awareness campaigns.

Models of care for tuberculosis infection screening and treatment in primary care: A scoping review.

Tuberculosis infection (TBI) screening and treatment delivered from primary care could hold the key to achieving tuberculosis (TB) elimination in low TB burden countries. This scoping review was undertaken to understand how elements of the cascade of care for TBI screening and treatment have been implemented in primary care settings globally. For this review, eight databases were searched, including PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Global Index Medicus, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global and the Cochrane Library, to examine models of care for TBI screening and treatment in primary care. Eight articles were included from the 7207 articles screened. These eight articles describe models of care that are varied in their aim, design and focus and elements of the TBI cascade of care. Although primary care is well placed to offer TBI screening and treatment, robust referral, community mobilisation and systems support are critical. Further research is necessary for Australia to deliver on the elimination target of the World Health Organization.

Community-Based Delivery and Administration of Sars-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Tests: An Operational Research Study in Marketplaces in Malawi and Zambia.

To expand access to testing beyond public health facilities and to strengthen surveillance efforts for COVID-19, community testing using COVID-19 antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) was identified as a major area of focus in Malawi and Zambia. This research aimed to gather evidence on the feasibility and acceptability of community testing in marketplaces. A cross-sectional study with a mixed-methods design was conducted in marketplaces in Malawi and Zambia to understand operational considerations for the implementation of Ag-RDTs for SARS-CoV-2 in a community setting. Programmatic data were collected prospectively as individuals were tested from June to September 2022. COVID-19 testing was done using Abbott Panbio nasal swab test kits. Semi-qualitative questionnaires were administered to individuals who tested, healthcare workers, and site-based personnel. Data were collected electronically via the SurveyCTO platform and analyzed using STATA. In Malawi, 2,348 participants were tested, and in Zambia, 1,723 people were tested for COVID-19. In Zambia, participants were 46% female, with a median age of 28 years, whereas in Malawi, participants were 69% female, with a median age of 37 years. In Malawi, 78 positive cases were reported (3.3% positivity rate), and in Zambia 10 positive cases were reported (0.5% positivity rate). In Zambia, 99% of 300 participants and in Malawi, 92% of 1,158 testers found the market testing experience and sample collection acceptable. Community testing is a feasible and acceptable intervention to increase testing access in Malawi and Zambia, especially when coupled with community awareness campaigns and mobilization.

Role of SHGs in Political Participation and Community Mobilisation in Manchar, Maharashtra: A Multifocal Approach

Role of SHGs in Political Participation and Community Mobilisation in Manchar, Maharashtra: A Multifocal Approach

Why becoming a positive deviant for malaria prevention and control: a sequential explanatory mixed methods study in Bugesera district, Rwanda

BackgroundMalaria continues to be a significant global health challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan African regions. Effective prevention and control strategies are crucial in mitigating its impact. Therefore, assessing the use of malaria preventive measures, treatment-seeking behaviours, and understanding the motivating factors behind positive behaviours/practices and barriers to using malaria preventive and control measures is essential for designing successful intervention programs.MethodsUsing a sequential explanatory mixed methods design, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 382 heads of households in the Mareba sector, Bugesera district, Rwanda. A qualitative study followed with 30 in-depth interviews among the top performers and other community members to explore the motivations and barriers to performing positive behaviours. Descriptive statistics for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative data were used.ResultsThis study revealed that among those who own insecticide-treated nets, 234(89.3%) reported that they slept under the bed net the night preceding the survey; 256(67%) had fever cases in the last 24 months preceding the survey; and 214(87%) reported seeking care within 24 h. While almost all 243(98.8%) of participants who had fever case reported that they have taken all medicines as prescribed, however, a large number 263(68.8%) and 148(38.7%) still think that there are people in the community who do not take all malaria medications as prescribed and there are people who share malaria medications in the community, respectively. 82(65.1%) of those who never had a fever case believe that they have been using malaria preventive measures correctly and consistently. This study found that knowledge about malaria, family support, and community mobilization are the top motivating factors to practice positive behaviours while, lack of bet nets, poverty, and lack of time were reported as main barriers.ConclusionInterventions that target key motivating factors for adopting positive behaviours in malaria prevention and control should be prioritized. This, in turn, will reduce the disease burden on affected populations. Efforts to overcome barriers in malaria prevention and control should also be participatory. Community involvement should be at the centre of these interventions.

The Role of Local Health Departments in Addressing the Opioid Crisis and Deploying Opioid Settlement Funds

This article examines the evolving role of local health departments in North Carolina’s opioid crisis response. Highlighting strategies like community mobilization, data prioritization, and regional partnerships, it illustrates the impact of opioid settlement funds in empowering local health departments to manage behavioral health systems and implement effective opioid abatement interventions.

Implementation strategies for decentralized management of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: insights from community health systems in Zambia

BackgroundDecentralized management approaches for multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) have shown improved treatment outcomes in patients. However, challenges remain in the delivery of decentralized MDR TB services. Further, implementation strategies for effectively delivering the services in community health systems (CHSs) in low-resource settings have not been fully described, as most strategies are known and effective in high-income settings. Our research aimed to delineate the specific implementation strategies employed in managing MDR TB in Zambia.MethodsOur qualitative case study involved 112 in-depth interviews with a diverse group of participants, including healthcare workers, community health workers, patients, caregivers, and health managers in nine districts. We categorized implementation strategies using the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) compilation and later grouped them into three CHS lenses: programmatic, relational, and collective action.ResultsThe programmatic lens comprised four implementation strategies: (1) changing infrastructure through refurbishing and expanding health facilities to accommodate management of MDR TB, (2) adapting and tailoring clinical and diagnostic services to the context through implementing tailored strategies, (3) training and educating health providers through ongoing training, and (4) using evaluative and iterative strategies to review program performance, which involved development and organization of quality monitoring systems, as well as audits. Relational lens strategies were (1) providing interactive assistance through offering local technical assistance in clinical expert committees and (2) providing support to clinicians through developing health worker and community health worker outreach teams. Finally, the main collective action lens strategy was engaging consumers; the discrete strategies were increasing demand using community networks and events and involving patients and family members.ConclusionThis study builds on the ERIC implementation strategies by stressing the need to fully consider interrelations or embeddedness of CHS strategies during implementation processes. For example, to work effectively, the programmatic lens strategies need to be supported by strategies that promote meaningful community engagement (the relational lens) and should be attuned to strategies that promote community mobilization (collective action lens).

Motivations and perspectives on the use of corporal punishment at home: A qualitative study of Ghanaian parents

BackgroundThe Convention on the Rights of the Child acknowledges the fundamental rights of children. Despite the adverse effects of corporal punishment, it continues to be prevalent, especially among sub-Saharan African countries, including Ghana. ObjectiveThis study explored whether parents ever used corporal punishment on their children at home and their motivations for doing so. It also explored whether parents perceive corporal punishment as a violation of children's rights and their views on continuing or discontinuing corporal punishment at home. Participants and settingThis study involved (100) parents across the ten regions of Ghana. MethodsA semi-structured interview guide was used to conduct interviews with parents. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data using the aid of QSR NVivo version 10. ResultsAll parents reported that they had ever punished their children. Three sub-themes emerged under the motivation of parents to punish their children. These include (a) building a sense of discipline in the child to prevent future misbehaviour, (b) releasing frustrations on children, and (c) toughening up the child to confront life challenges. Also, parents had mixed opinions on whether corporal punishment violates children's human rights and whether corporal punishment should be practiced at home. ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that parents perceived corporal punishment as beneficial for their children's development. There is a need for community mobilisation programmes to change parents' and society's attitudes, norms, and beliefs regarding corporal punishment.