Feasibility of Tiyanjane: A Family–School–Community Intervention Promoting Parental Involvement in the Education of Children with Disabilities in Malawi
Evidence-based and theory-informed interventions focusing on parents of children with disabilities in low-income countries are scarce. This study examined the feasibility of Tiyanjane, a 12-week pilot intervention developed to promote parental involvement in the education of children with disabiliti...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Social Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/5/265 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850256122123911168 |
|---|---|
| author | David John Musendo Sarah Polack Blessings Chirwa Ellen S. Nkambule Claire Mukakagame Magnolia Chikanya Thomas A. Nkhonjera Tracey Smythe |
| author_facet | David John Musendo Sarah Polack Blessings Chirwa Ellen S. Nkambule Claire Mukakagame Magnolia Chikanya Thomas A. Nkhonjera Tracey Smythe |
| author_sort | David John Musendo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Evidence-based and theory-informed interventions focusing on parents of children with disabilities in low-income countries are scarce. This study examined the feasibility of Tiyanjane, a 12-week pilot intervention developed to promote parental involvement in the education of children with disabilities in Malawi. A mixed-method approach was employed based on five aspects of Bowen’s feasibility framework: acceptability, demand, implementation, practicality, and limited efficacy. Twenty-one participants (13 caregivers, four teachers, and four local leaders) participated in the study. Standardised measures, namely the Parent and Family Adjustment Scale (PAFAS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), were employed to evaluate changes in parental practices, adjustments, and perceived social support. Qualitative data were collected using focus groups and in-depth interviews to assess the feasibility of the intervention. Tiyanjane showed promise in promoting parental involvement in the education of children with disabilities. The intervention demonstrated high fidelity, achieving 100% retention and 95% attendance. Local resources, commitment from participants and facilitators, and strong family school–community ties enabled the practicality and execution of the intervention. Significant improvements were observed in the PAFAS and MSPSS scores across the assessed post-intervention outcomes. Minor logistical issues including resource and implementation challenges were reported. Tiyanjane was feasible for the facilitators and participants in the Malawian context. Further studies are needed to assess the programme’s adaptation, integration, and expansion in other contexts before scaling up. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8059bdf2a544422e804ae612e7f95c41 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-8059bdf2a544422e804ae612e7f95c412025-08-20T01:56:42ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602025-04-0114526510.3390/socsci14050265Feasibility of Tiyanjane: A Family–School–Community Intervention Promoting Parental Involvement in the Education of Children with Disabilities in MalawiDavid John Musendo0Sarah Polack1Blessings Chirwa2Ellen S. Nkambule3Claire Mukakagame4Magnolia Chikanya5Thomas A. Nkhonjera6Tracey Smythe7International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UKInternational Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UKDepartment of Water and Sanitation, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Mzuzu University, Mzuzu P.O. Box 201, MalawiDepartment of Nursing and Midwifery, Mzuzu University, Mzuzu P.O. Box 201, MalawiDevelopment Studies Department, Faculty of Social Sciences, Kigali Independent University, Kigali P.O. Box 2280, RwandaDepartment of Statistical Science, Faculty of Science, University of Capetown, Cape Town 7701, South AfricaDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Mzuzu University, Mzuzu P.O. Box 201, MalawiInternational Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UKEvidence-based and theory-informed interventions focusing on parents of children with disabilities in low-income countries are scarce. This study examined the feasibility of Tiyanjane, a 12-week pilot intervention developed to promote parental involvement in the education of children with disabilities in Malawi. A mixed-method approach was employed based on five aspects of Bowen’s feasibility framework: acceptability, demand, implementation, practicality, and limited efficacy. Twenty-one participants (13 caregivers, four teachers, and four local leaders) participated in the study. Standardised measures, namely the Parent and Family Adjustment Scale (PAFAS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), were employed to evaluate changes in parental practices, adjustments, and perceived social support. Qualitative data were collected using focus groups and in-depth interviews to assess the feasibility of the intervention. Tiyanjane showed promise in promoting parental involvement in the education of children with disabilities. The intervention demonstrated high fidelity, achieving 100% retention and 95% attendance. Local resources, commitment from participants and facilitators, and strong family school–community ties enabled the practicality and execution of the intervention. Significant improvements were observed in the PAFAS and MSPSS scores across the assessed post-intervention outcomes. Minor logistical issues including resource and implementation challenges were reported. Tiyanjane was feasible for the facilitators and participants in the Malawian context. Further studies are needed to assess the programme’s adaptation, integration, and expansion in other contexts before scaling up.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/5/265parent involvementchildren with disabilitiescommunity engagementeducationfeasibility studyfamily–school–community partnerships |
| spellingShingle | David John Musendo Sarah Polack Blessings Chirwa Ellen S. Nkambule Claire Mukakagame Magnolia Chikanya Thomas A. Nkhonjera Tracey Smythe Feasibility of Tiyanjane: A Family–School–Community Intervention Promoting Parental Involvement in the Education of Children with Disabilities in Malawi Social Sciences parent involvement children with disabilities community engagement education feasibility study family–school–community partnerships |
| title | Feasibility of Tiyanjane: A Family–School–Community Intervention Promoting Parental Involvement in the Education of Children with Disabilities in Malawi |
| title_full | Feasibility of Tiyanjane: A Family–School–Community Intervention Promoting Parental Involvement in the Education of Children with Disabilities in Malawi |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility of Tiyanjane: A Family–School–Community Intervention Promoting Parental Involvement in the Education of Children with Disabilities in Malawi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility of Tiyanjane: A Family–School–Community Intervention Promoting Parental Involvement in the Education of Children with Disabilities in Malawi |
| title_short | Feasibility of Tiyanjane: A Family–School–Community Intervention Promoting Parental Involvement in the Education of Children with Disabilities in Malawi |
| title_sort | feasibility of tiyanjane a family school community intervention promoting parental involvement in the education of children with disabilities in malawi |
| topic | parent involvement children with disabilities community engagement education feasibility study family–school–community partnerships |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/5/265 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT davidjohnmusendo feasibilityoftiyanjaneafamilyschoolcommunityinterventionpromotingparentalinvolvementintheeducationofchildrenwithdisabilitiesinmalawi AT sarahpolack feasibilityoftiyanjaneafamilyschoolcommunityinterventionpromotingparentalinvolvementintheeducationofchildrenwithdisabilitiesinmalawi AT blessingschirwa feasibilityoftiyanjaneafamilyschoolcommunityinterventionpromotingparentalinvolvementintheeducationofchildrenwithdisabilitiesinmalawi AT ellensnkambule feasibilityoftiyanjaneafamilyschoolcommunityinterventionpromotingparentalinvolvementintheeducationofchildrenwithdisabilitiesinmalawi AT clairemukakagame feasibilityoftiyanjaneafamilyschoolcommunityinterventionpromotingparentalinvolvementintheeducationofchildrenwithdisabilitiesinmalawi AT magnoliachikanya feasibilityoftiyanjaneafamilyschoolcommunityinterventionpromotingparentalinvolvementintheeducationofchildrenwithdisabilitiesinmalawi AT thomasankhonjera feasibilityoftiyanjaneafamilyschoolcommunityinterventionpromotingparentalinvolvementintheeducationofchildrenwithdisabilitiesinmalawi AT traceysmythe feasibilityoftiyanjaneafamilyschoolcommunityinterventionpromotingparentalinvolvementintheeducationofchildrenwithdisabilitiesinmalawi |