Low-cost parenting app cuts sexual violence against girls by more than half

A groundbreaking study led by the Department of Social Policy and Intervention (DSPI) and published in The Lancet has found that a low-cost digital parenting programme reduced sexual abuse and exploitation among adolescent girls by more than half in a trial in Tanzania. The intervention also reduced physical and verbal abuse of adolescents by caregivers.  

Complementary economic research published in Social Science & Medicine found the programme could generate US$16 in health service savings for every dollar invested, highlighting its potential as an affordable, scalable approach to preventing violence against children. 

With an estimated one in five girls and one in seven boys experiencing sexual violence globally during childhood, the findings come ahead of the Second Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children on 16-19 November 2026, where ministers, Deputy Prime Ministers and Vice Presidents from 129 governments will be convening. 

About the trial  

The trial involved nearly 2,400 young people aged 10–17 and their caregivers from low-income families in 80 urban and rural neighbourhoods in Tanzania’s Mwanza region. Neighbourhoods were randomly assigned to receive either ParentApp or WASHApp, a comparison app covering water, sanitation and hygiene. 

Adapted from the WHO–UNICEF Parenting for Lifelong Health programme, ParentApp delivers 12 offline smartphone modules in Kiswahili, including guidance on preventing sexual violence.

All participating families received a low-cost smartphone with their assigned app installed and an in-person introductory session. Families using ParentApp families were also offered facilitated WhatsApp support groups.

Researchers followed the families for 18 months. More than three-quarters (76%) of participating families completed all modules, with retention rates of 92%.  No trial-related adverse events were reported. 

Significant reductions in sexual violence and exploitation 

The trial is the first to demonstrate that a single app-based intervention can reduce sexual violence, abuse, and sexual exploitation among adolescents at the same time.

Girls receiving ParentApp reported: 

• 67% lower rates of sexual violence in the past year 
• 54% lower rates of sexual exploitation in the past month 
• 51% increase in past-month positive parent-child relationships 

Although reductions in sexual violence among boys were not statistically significant, the study identified wider benefits for children and families: 

• Reduced exposure to risk: girls and boys were 14% less likely to encounter situations that put them at risk of sexual violence, such as going out at night with local motorbike drivers. 
• Improved family wellbeing: reports of physical and verbal abuse and neglect fell by 8% among adolescents and 13% among caregivers. Both groups reported fewer symptoms of depression. 
• Lower levels of partner violence: caregivers reported 10% less violence from their partners, as homes became less stressful and family communication improved. 

‘We are the first generation to have solutions that prevent childhood sexual violence. Parents can now have the tools needed to protect their children. With 133 million children victimised globally each year, scaling these solutions is an urgent priority,’ said Professor Lucie Cluver, Professor of Child and Family Social Work at DSPI, University of Oxford and University of Cape Town. 

An affordable approach with substantial economic benefits

The study published in Social Science & Medicine highlights the potential financial benefits of preventing violence, estimating there is a US$16 in health service savings for every US$1 invested in ParentApp. 

At scale, the ParentApp programme is estimated to cost just US$6 per family, rising to approximately US$10 if one in five families is given a smartphone. This compares with around US$120 per family for traditional in-person delivery. 

‘Governments spend immense resources responding to the aftermath of child abuse. Our findings demonstrate that primary prevention is fully feasible and cost-effective. Reaching families early with digital parenting support, stops violence before it occurs, providing a transformative path forward for global health policy,’ said Dr Abigail Ornellas, lead author of the economic study and Senior Manager at the Global Parenting Initiative, University of Cape Town.

Implications for global child protection 

The findings provide strong evidence that digital parenting support can help prevent violence against children while reducing pressure on health services. 

This is particularly timely as governments face growing financial pressures and look for effective, affordable ways to prevent violence against children. Several countries, including Tanzania, South Africa, Malaysia, Mexico, and Panama are planning to introduce the programme in the coming months.

‘To prevent violence, Governments need interventions that are effective, cost-efficient and capable of reaching families at scale. This study provides important evidence to inform those decisions, while reinforcing that parenting support must form part of a broader child protection approach encompassing prevention and response,’ commented Sheema SenGupta, Director, Child Protection and Migration, UNICEF.  

Background to ParentApp

The ParentApp trial in Tanzania was led by the University of Oxford, the University of Cape Town, Tanzania's National Institute for Medical Research, Parenting for Lifelong Health, and international partners. It was funded by UK Research and Innovation Global Challenges Research Fund, Oak Foundation, LEGO Foundation, European Research Council, and an anonymous family foundation. Watch how the ParentApp intervention works.