Knowledge transformation among volunteers concerning child parenting in disaster affected areas

¹ Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Andalas, Padang, Indonesia
² Department of Pediatric, Dr. M. Djamil General Hospital, Padang, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: dita.wulansari07@yahoo.com

Abstract

Indonesia is a high-risk disaster country, increasing risks to the mental health and well-being of vulnerable populations, particularly children and their caregivers. Volunteers in disaster areas are usually busy providing basic needs such as food, shelter, and physical safety, but they also encompass psychosocial support, education, and the development of adaptive skills that enable children to grow into resilient individuals. This study investigates the impact of disaster-related interventions on parenting styles and children's adaptive behaviors in affected communities. A quantitative pre-post intervention study was conducted involving 24 participants aged 25 to 60 years, predominantly female (62.5%). Participants' demographic characteristics were documented, and knowledge about parenting was measured before and after the intervention. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test to evaluate changes in scores. The intervention significantly improved, as reflected by increase in mean scores from 4.71 ± 2.09 (pre-test) to 8.12 ± 1.75 (post-test), with median scores rising from 4.00 to 9.00. The statistics confirmed this improvement was statistically significant (Z = 4.058, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that targeted interventions effectively enhance parenting skills and potentially mitigate the psychological impacts of disaster on children by fostering more adaptive parenting styles. Integrating parenting disaster management programs crucial for fostering community resilience.