Maternal and paternal perspectives on parenting stress in rural Tanzania: A qualitative study

Parents across the world are faced with many challenges that can increase their levels of stress. Only a handful of studies have examined parenting stress in sub-Saharan African contexts, and most have focused only on mothers or at-risk populations. There is therefore a significant gap in our understanding of the factors that contribute to parenting stress in mothers and fathers in the general population across sub-Saharan Africa and how parents manage this stress. The objective of this study was to examine parenting-related stress in mothers and fathers with young children and how parents dealt with this stress in the Mara region of Tanzania. A qualitative phenomenological study was employed. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with mothers and fathers. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic content analysis. Both mothers and fathers identified poverty and lack of consistent employment as two major contributors to parenting stress. These factors strained the marital relationship and impacted child illness and malnutrition, which further contributed to parenting stress. Parents primarily sought support for childcare, financial, and relationship stressors from their spouse and extended family members. Although parents commonly participated in formal social groups with peers, these groups were not a primary source of support in times of parenting stress. Collectively, these findings informed the development of a framework on the different types of stressors parents in rural Tanzania face and the interactions between them, the types of support they seek out or receive, and the individuals they turn to for support. This is the first study to examine both maternal and paternal experiences of parenting stress in a general population in a sub-Saharan African context. These findings can inform the development of interventions to promote the wellbeing of parents and families of young children.