Effects of a Nurturing Care Group behavior change program on child protection outcomes in Ghana: A controlled before and after trial

World Vision tested a behavior change model called Nurturing Care Groups (NCGs) in Ghana to assess its impact on reducing child abuse and promoting positive parenting. Implemented in two ecological zones and reaching nearly 74,000 caregivers of children under five, the low-cost, scalable intervention showed promising results. Compared to control communities, caregivers in intervention areas reported significant improvements in knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to child protection. Notably, there were marked reductions in physical and psychological punishment and increases in positive discipline and stress management techniques. These findings suggest that NCGs can be an effective approach to shifting caregiver behavior and strengthening child protection in low-resource settings.