Building social capital in first-time parents through a group-parenting program: a questionnaire survey.
BACKGROUND
Parents who are connected into strong family and community networks are said to have high social capital enabling them to provide a positive context where their children's social, emotional and educational needs are met.


OBJECTIVE
To identify parent satisfaction with, strengths and weaknesses of, opportunities to build social capital, and the impact of a two-course pilot health and relationship focused Parenting Education Program-PEPE, designed for first-time parents, on the core work of the well-child nurse/health visitor.


METHODS
Retrospective descriptive survey using postal questionnaires.


METHODS
Twelve pilot parenting courses facilitated across five regions of New Zealand.


METHODS
All parents (n = 105) and clinical nursing staff (n = 12) involved in the pilot parenting courses were invited to participate. Overall response rate was 82%.


METHODS
Questionnaires developed by investigators were mailed to the eligible population. Numerical data was analysed using PC-SAS. Narrative data was subjected to thematic content analysis.


RESULTS
Attendance at both parenting courses positively correlated with an increase in measures of social capital: development of strong social networks (82% Your New Baby course respondents: 95% CI, 75-89, and 98% Your Growing Baby course respondents: 95% CI, 96-100), and positive relationships with others (93% Your New Baby course respondents: 95% CI, 88-98, and 86% Your Growing Baby course respondents: 95% CI, 83-89). Increased confidence in respondent's parenting ability was also identified (96% Your New Baby course respondents: 95% CI, 92-100; 96% Your Growing Baby course respondents: 95% CI 93-99).


CONCLUSIONS
The PEPE programme was well accepted by first-time parents leading to significant improvements in development of social capital and parenting confidence. Well-child health nurses are in a prime position to foster social capital and help rebuild communities within which they work to enhance parenting outcomes.
Fielden
Jann M
JM
School of Health Sciences, Massey University, New Zealand. J.M.Fielden@massey.ac.nz
Gallagher
Lou M
LM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D019058:Community Networks; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016487:Parenting; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012944:Social Support