<p>The large-scale delivery of evidence-based parenting programmes is key to nation building in South africa. in order to achieve change, parents must participate in these programmes. This policy brief aims to contribute to an understanding of participation by exploring the barriers and facilitators encountered by a sample of parents who were invited to take part in one of two local parenting programmes.</p>
<p>Key points:</p>
<ul>
<li>widespread delivery of evidence-based parenting programmes can contribute to national development by improving outcomes for parents and children</li>
<li>effective recruitment and retention strategies are essential to ensuring that parents receive services and that resources are used wisely</li>
<li>barriers to parents’ participation in programmes (e.g. transport difficulties, lack of childcare) must be reduced and facilitators of engagement (e.g. family buy-in, readiness to change) must be enhanced</li>
<li>including pre-programme home visits by facilitators and providing transport, refreshments and childcare are examples of strategies that may enhance engagement</li>
<li>strategies to increase parents’ involvement in programmes may increase the costs, but will also increase the return on investment</li>
</ul>
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