Mothers for the Future: Piloting a Parenting Curriculum for Mothers Who Are Sex Workers in Cape Town, South Africa. Open Access
Holl, Jennifer (2016)
Published
Abstract
Background: The stigmatization and criminalization that often surround sex work leaves those in the industry vulnerable to human rights violations and increased health risks. The majority of programs and research related to sex workers focus on HIV prevention and treatment in this population. This, however, results in the primary healthcare, mental health and many psychosocial needs of sex workers going largely unaddressed. Few, if any, interventions targeting the specific needs of sex workers who are mothers are in existence. The Mothers of the Future curriculum seeks to address this gap within the South African context.
Purpose: The purpose of this special studies project is to assess strengths, weaknesses, and acceptability of the content and structure of the recently developed Mothers for the Future curriculum and to make programmatic improvements based on findings collected during the piloting of the curriculum. Program refinement is expected to improve facilitator training and future program delivery.
Methods: From June to August 2015, a program assessment of Mothers for the Future was conducted at SWEAT headquarters in Cape Town, South Africa. Seven sessions of the Mothers for the Future curriculum were pilot-tested over the course of a three-week workshop. Curriculum materials and program implementation were assessed through facilitator observations, pre- and post-test surveys, key-informant interviews and focus group discussions.
Results: Participants in this assessment demonstrated high levels of satisfaction with the program. During piloting, several themes speaking to the participants' overarching needs, values, and beliefs emerged. These themes include: support, respect, learning and education, self-esteem, and empowerment/self-efficacy. Participant feedback also revealed key areas for improvement of the curriculum. Revisions to the curriculum were made to reflect these findings, and broadly include restructuring of individual sessions, clarification of language and instruction, and the provision of supplemental information where gaps in content were indicated.
Discussion: As the first curriculum of its kind, Mothers of the Future is poised to become a model for future parenting interventions designed for sex workers. While setting-specific piloting and more rigorous evaluation of the curriculum and its long-term impact will be required to measure program effectiveness, preliminary results from this assessment are promising.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION........................................................................1
INTRODUCTION AND RATIONALE................................................................1
PROBLEM STATEMENT.................................................................................5
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.............................................................................7
SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT..........................................................................8
DEFINITION OF TERMS.................................................................................8
ACRONYMS...................................................................................................9
CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE...................................................10
CHAPTER 3: METHODS................................................................................17
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS...................................................................................25
I. THE MOTHERS FOR THE FUTURE WORKSHOP EXPERIENCE.......................25
II. CURRICULUM CONTENT AREAS & RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION......34
Session 2: Planning Pregnancy & Protection..................................................35
Session 3: Options Counseling......................................................................43
Session 4: Pregnancy....................................................................................47
Session 5: Children's Health..........................................................................54
Session 6: Breastfeeding...............................................................................60
Session 7: Food & Finances...........................................................................66
Session 8: Child Care & Safety.......................................................................72
General Comments and Recommendations.....................................................77
Summary of Revisions...................................................................................79
Additional Findings and Recommendations Beyond the Scope of the Curriculum.......79
CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION.............................................................................82
REFERENCES................................................................................................91
APPENDICES................................................................................................93
APPENDIX I: FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE (1)......................................93
APPENDIX II: FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE (2).....................................96
APPENDIX III: SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONNAIRE.........................................99
APPENDIX IV: INFORMED CONSENT............................................................101
About this Master's Thesis
| School | |
|---|---|
| Department | |
| Degree | |
| Submission | |
| Language |
|
| Research Field | |
| Keyword | |
| Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor | |
| Committee Members | |
| Partnering Agencies |
Primary PDF
| Thumbnail | Title | Date Uploaded | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Mothers for the Future: Piloting a Parenting Curriculum for Mothers Who Are Sex Workers in Cape Town, South Africa. () | 2018-08-28 11:24:46 -0400 |
|
Supplemental Files
| Thumbnail | Title | Date Uploaded | Actions |
|---|