CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
IS PREVENTABLE
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
IS PREVENTABLE
THE CHALLENGE
1 in 5 girls and 1 in 7 boys
experience sexual violence during childhood, globally
In Tanzania, around 1 in 12 girls and 1 in 30 boys experience sexual violence before the age of 18.
Parents can protect their children when they get the right support. But in-person parenting programmes are expensive and reach only a fraction of those who need them. ParentApp was built to close that gap.
THE CHALLENGE
1 in 5 girls and 1 in 7 boys
experience sexual violence during childhood, globally
In Tanzania, around 1 in 12 girls and 1 in 30 boys experience sexual violence before the age of 18.
Parents can protect their children when they get the right support. But in-person parenting programmes are expensive and reach only a fraction of those who need them. ParentApp was built to close that gap.
ABOUT PARENTAPP
Proven parenting support at scale
ParentApp, our flagship digital intervention is a low-cost, blended digital parenting programme for caregivers. ParentApp for Teens supports parents of adolescents aged 10 to 17 and was co-developed with parents and teens across Africa.
It draws on insights from pioneering sexual violence prevention initiatives, including No Means No Worldwide and the Brave Movement, and brings them into a parenting framework.
Free and open-source
Governments and partners can adapt, own and sustain it for their populations.
Offline-first
Works where data is costly and connections are unreliable — built for real-world conditions.
Built for systems
Designed to be embedded in public health and social protection services at national scale.
ABOUT PARENTAPP
Proven parenting support at scale
ParentApp is a low-cost, blended digital parenting programme for caregivers. ParentApp for Teens supports parents of adolescents aged 10 to 17 and was co-developed with parents and teens across Africa.
It draws on insights from pioneering sexual violence prevention initiatives, including No Means No Worldwide and the Brave Movement, and brings them into a parenting framework.
Free and open-source
Governments and partners can adapt, own and sustain it for their populations.
Offline-first
Works where data is costly and connections are unreliable — built for real-world conditions.
Built for systems
Designed to be embedded in public health and social protection services at national scale.
HOW IT WORKS
Technology with a human touch
Meet
Families start with an introductory in-person group session led by a local community facilitator.
Learn
Caregivers work through 12 modules on an offline-first mobile app, building skills to strengthen relationships and keep teens safe.
Connect
WhatsApp support groups, run by local community facilitators, keep families motivated and connected throughout.
HOW IT WORKS
Technology with a human touch
Meet
Families start with an introductory in-person group session led by a local community facilitator.
Learn
Caregivers work through 12 modules on an offline-first mobile app, building skills to strengthen relationships and keep teens safe.
Connect
WhatsApp support groups, run by local community facilitators, keep families motivated and connected throughout.
THE TRIAL
What the trial found
Fourteen months after the programme, girls in communities receiving ParentApp reported 67% less sexual violence than girls in comparison communities. Families also reported less physical and emotional maltreatment and better wellbeing across the board.
Details
Design
Cluster-randomised controlled trial, with investigators and statisticians masked to allocation.
Setting
80 urban and rural sub-wards in Mwanza, Tanzania.
Participants
2,396 adolescents aged 10 to 17 (average age 13) and 2,396 caregivers.
Comparison
Active control: WASHApp, a water, sanitation and hygiene programme.
Follow up
14 months
Outcomes
For girls
- 67% reduction in past-year sexual violence victimisation
- 54% reduction in past-month sexual exploitation
- 51% increase in past-month positive parent-child relationships
For boys and girls
- Both reported less exposure to situations that put them at risk of sexual violence
- The trial did not find a statistically significant reduction in sexual violence or exploitation among boys
For families
- Less physical and emotional child maltreatment
- Better parenting practices, family communication and conflict resolution
- Improved caregiver and child mental health
- Stronger financial coping and social support
- Lower intimate partner violence victimisation among female caregivers
Partnerships
Led by
University of Oxford, University of Cape Town, Tanzania’s National Institute for Medical Research, and Parenting for Lifelong Health.
Partners
The trial was delivered with Tanzania’s Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, UNICEF and WHO country offices in Tanzania and South Africa, and Vodacom Tanzania, which co-sponsored devices and connectivity. Local community facilitators supported the WhatsApp groups.
Funders
The study was funded by UK Research and Innovation Global Challenges Research Fund, Oak Foundation, LEGO Foundation, the European Research Council and an anonymous family foundation. ParentApp development was also supported by an anonymous funder, World Childhood Foundation, Nuffield College, the Agency Fund, UNICEF and The Human Safety Net Foundation.
Publications
The Lancet
A blended digital parenting intervention for the prevention of sexual violence, exploitative sex and maltreatment of adolescent children at scale in Tanzania: a cluster-randomised, controlled trial.
Social Science & Medicine
Cost-effectiveness of a digital parenting intervention for reducing violence and related health burden among adolescents in Tanzania.
reduction in sexual violence against girls
reduction in sexual exploitation of girls
increase in positive parent-child relationships
per family at scale, vs $120 in person
in health savings per $1 invested
THE TRIAL
What the trial found
Fourteen months after the programme, girls in communities receiving ParentApp reported 67% less sexual violence than girls in comparison communities. Families also reported less physical and emotional maltreatment and better wellbeing across the board.
Details
Design
Cluster-randomised controlled trial, with investigators and statisticians masked to allocation.
Setting
80 urban and rural sub-wards in Mwanza, Tanzania.
Participants
2,396 adolescents aged 10 to 17 (average age 13) and 2,396 caregivers.
Comparison
Active control: WASHApp, a water, sanitation and hygiene programme.
Follow up
14 months
Outcomes
For girls
- 67% reduction in past-year sexual violence victimisation
- 54% reduction in past-month sexual exploitation
- 51% increase in past-month positive parent-child relationships
For boys and girls
- Both reported less exposure to situations that put them at risk of sexual violence
- The trial did not find a statistically significant reduction in sexual violence or exploitation among boys
For families
- Less physical and emotional child maltreatment
- Better parenting practices, family communication and conflict resolution
- Improved caregiver and child mental health
- Stronger financial coping and social support
- Lower intimate partner violence victimisation among female caregivers
Partnerships
Led by
University of Oxford, University of Cape Town, Tanzania’s National Institute for Medical Research, and Parenting for Lifelong Health.
Partners
The trial was delivered with Tanzania’s Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, UNICEF and WHO country offices in Tanzania and South Africa, and Vodacom Tanzania, which co-sponsored devices and connectivity. Local community facilitators supported the WhatsApp groups.
Funders
The study was funded by UK Research and Innovation Global Challenges Research Fund, Oak Foundation, LEGO Foundation, the European Research Council and an anonymous family foundation. ParentApp development was also supported by an anonymous funder, World Childhood Foundation, Nuffield College, the Agency Fund, UNICEF and The Human Safety Net Foundation.
Publications
The Lancet
A blended digital parenting intervention for the prevention of sexual violence, exploitative sex and maltreatment of adolescent children at scale in Tanzania: a cluster-randomised, controlled trial.
Social Science & Medicine
Cost-effectiveness of a digital parenting intervention for reducing violence and related health burden among adolescents in Tanzania.
reduction in sexual violence against girls
reduction in sexual exploitation of girls
increase in positive parent-child relationships
per family at scale vs $120 for in-person intervention
in health savings per $1 invested
THE TRIAL
What the trial found
Fourteen months after the programme, girls in communities receiving ParentApp reported 67% less sexual violence than girls in comparison communities. Families also reported less physical and emotional maltreatment and better wellbeing across the board.
Details
Design
Cluster-randomised controlled trial, with investigators and statisticians masked to allocation.
Setting
80 urban and rural sub-wards in Mwanza, Tanzania.
Participants
2,396 adolescents aged 10 to 17 (average age 13) and 2,396 caregivers.
Comparison
Active control: WASHApp, a water, sanitation and hygiene programme.
Follow up
14 months
Outcomes
For girls
- 67% reduction in past-year sexual violence victimisation
- 54% reduction in past-month sexual exploitation
- 51% increase in past-month positive parent-child relationships
For boys and girls
- Both reported less exposure to situations that put them at risk of sexual violence
- The trial did not find a statistically significant reduction in sexual violence or exploitation among boys
For families
- Less physical and emotional child maltreatment
- Better parenting practices, family communication and conflict resolution
- Improved caregiver and child mental health
- Stronger financial coping and social support
- Lower intimate partner violence victimisation among female caregivers
Partnerships
Led by
University of Oxford, University of Cape Town, Tanzania’s National Institute for Medical Research, and Parenting for Lifelong Health.
Partners
The trial was delivered with Tanzania’s Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, UNICEF and WHO country offices in Tanzania and South Africa, and Vodacom Tanzania, which co-sponsored devices and connectivity. Local community facilitators supported the WhatsApp groups.
Funders
The study was funded by UK Research and Innovation Global Challenges Research Fund, Oak Foundation, LEGO Foundation, the European Research Council and an anonymous family foundation. ParentApp development was also supported by an anonymous funder, World Childhood Foundation, Nuffield College, the Agency Fund, UNICEF and The Human Safety Net Foundation.
Publications
The Lancet
A blended digital parenting intervention for the prevention of sexual violence, exploitative sex and maltreatment of adolescent children at scale in Tanzania: a cluster-randomised, controlled trial.
Social Science & Medicine
Cost-effectiveness of a digital parenting intervention for reducing violence and related health burden among adolescents in Tanzania.
reduction in sexual violence against girls
reduction in sexual exploitation of girls
increase in positive parent-child relationships
per family at scale vs $120 for in-person intervention
in health savings per $1 invested
FROM EVIDENCE TO SCALE
What this means and where next
Governments in South Africa, Tanzania, Malaysia, and Mexico are exploring how to take ParentApp to scale with support from Parenting for Lifelong Health. As ministers from over 100 governments meet in the Philippines for the Second Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, these results offer a proven, affordable option.
Governments
Embed ParentApp in national health, education and social protection systems.
Funders
Help take a proven, low-cost intervention to population scale.
Partners
Adapt and deliver ParentApp: it is free and open-source.
Researchers
Build on the evidence and test ParentApp in new settings.
FROM EVIDENCE TO SCALE
What this means and where next
Governments in South Africa, Tanzania, Malaysia, and Mexico are exploring how to take ParentApp to scale with support from Parenting for Lifelong Health. As ministers from over 100 governments meet in the Philippines for the Second Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, these results offer a proven, affordable option.
Governments
Embed ParentApp in national health, education and social protection systems.
Funders
Help take a proven, low-cost intervention to population scale.
Partners
Adapt and deliver ParentApp: it is free and open-source.
Researchers
Build on the evidence and test ParentApp in new settings.
With thanks to this trail's funders
With thanks to this trial's funders