Recall and understanding of a communication campaign designed to promote positive parenting and prevent child maltreatment

Distribution and correlates of the respondents' recall and understanding of the campaign were examined. Results show that 32.1% of respondents recalled having seen the campaign material. Among these, a large majority reported having understood the intended messages (parenting difficulties are normal, seeking help is the right thing to do, and/or effective support is available). However, some respondents also retained unintended messages blaming parents and/or children, and almost half the sample retained mixed messages (intended and unintended). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that community of residence, annual household income, and psychological aggression towards the child at home were three significant correlates of campaign recall + intended messages understood. None of the examined factors were associated with recall + mixed messages understood. Findings suggest a neighborhood effect on the proximal outcomes of the campaign, and a slightly higher reach and understanding among better-off families as well as families struggling with psychologically violent parenting practices. These results are discussed in light of the outcomes of similar campaigns.