Introduction. Child maltreatment, particularly physical abuse, is related to how parents manage misbehavior and use discipline. Approaches to discipline vary greatly from exclusive use of non-physical methods to use of physical contact such as hitting and spanking. Background. Based on recommendations from a formative research conducted in 1999, one upstate New York county chose to promote positive parenting practices (e.g. time out) through use of an informational/media campaign. Methods. To track campaign effectiveness baseline measures were obtained over two months beginning in December 2000. Targeting parents of children under 5, a local evaluator conducted a telephone survey to over 400 parents from randomly selected households across the county. Respondents provided information on their approaches to child misbehavior given four different scenarios, their knowledge of time out, their actions when ‘stressed out’ and their opinions on spanking. Results. Knowledge of time out differed slightly among respondents when compared across gender (mother/father), parental age, and geographic area (urban/other). Use of time out varied greatly, with mothers and non-urban parents reporting a greater likelihood of time out use. Conclusions. While parents may know how to use time out, they may not be incorporating it into their repertoire of responses to children’s behavior. Additional information on decision-making about discipline is needed. Public Health Implications. Educational approaches about effective parenting measures require more than knowledge transfer. Teaching alternatives should take into account the context of parents disciplinary approach(es) and their perception the alternatives.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1 -- describe an assessment method for time-out knowledge and use among parents 2 -- describe three ways in which parents differ in their use of time out
Keywords: Survey, Primary Prevention
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