NEED ASSESSMENT FOR DESIGNING TRAINING COURSE FOR PARENTS IN PREVENTING VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN

Abstract

Lithuania prohibited by law any kind of violence against children, however, reported cases as well as previous and resent representative research show that the problem still exists. The state takes various measures to prevent violence against children, and parents’ training is one of such possibilities, however, the parental training in Lithuania is not effective and one possible reason could be that various courses are not based on parents’ needs. The goal of this article is to present data of need analysis which was done as a prerequisite for training course development. The article is based on qualitative study by interviewing parents about their knowledge, perceptions and need for training. Research participants have knowledge about violence against children, they name and discuss physical violence, corporal punishment, neglect, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, however, do not differentiate them strictly. They see the need of parental training in preventing violence against children. The most wanted topics are reasons of the violence, knowledge about child development as they understand that children in different development stages have different needs and parents’ reactions to misbehaviour should be adequate to the development stage. Also, general topic of parenting – what does it mean, how to become a good mother/farther – is named during interviews.