Maternal sensitivity training programs: preventing child maltreatment through community-based interventions

Child maltreatment is a major public health concern in Iran, driven by complex socioeconomic and cultural factors. This quasi-experimental study examined whether a culturally adapted maternal sensitivity training program—inspired by the Video-Feedback Intervention to Promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD)—could improve sensitivity and reduce maltreatment risk among 60 Iranian mothers of children aged 0–5 years. Participants from urban and rural health centers were assigned to four groups: urban/rural experimental (n=15 each) and urban/rural control (n=15 each). The intervention included eight weekly group sessions with video feedback. Using the Persian Maternal Behavior Q-Sort and Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale, with depression and SES as covariates, repeated-measures ANCOVAs revealed significant improvements in sensitivity (partial η2=.72) and reduced maltreatment risk (partial η2=.66) for experimental groups, with stronger urban effects maintained at 3-month follow-up. Location moderated outcomes. Findings suggest program promise for promoting protective parenting, though non-randomization, small samples, and short follow-up limit causality; larger randomized trials are needed.