Exploring the cultural validity and utility of the Ububele new-born behavioural observation programme

Abstract

The task of caregiving and establishing a good caregiver-infant attachment becomes increasingly more challenging in contexts characterised by extreme poverty, unemployment, trauma and violence. During this time, early caregiver-infant interventions may be influential in providing support to caregivers which results in the ability to address problems early in the caregiver-infant relationship that affect normal infant development. Currently a community based organisation situated in Alexandra Township in South Africa, seeks to enhance the caregiver-infant relationship and promote healthy developmental outcomes for the infant. One way in which this is achieved is through the use of a caregiver-infant programme namely, the Ububele New-born Behavioural Observation Programme (NBO). However, there are different discourses about caregiving and infant development across. This holds particular importance when considering the applicability of a western developed programme such as the NBO within a non-westernised context. To gain a better understanding of this programme, it was considered important to take a phenomenological approach and explore the perceptions and experiences of eight caregivers who have completed the NBO programme with their infants. The evaluation of the validity and utility of western developed interventions in South Africa that aims to support caregiver-infant dyads such as the NBO is of critical importance.