In Mucwini and Lagoro sub-counties in Uganda, couples are learning how to safeguard their familiy's health through parent support groups. These groups–facilitated by Kitgum District Local Government with support from World Vision–equip couples with the knowledge and skills they need to nurture and care for their new-born babies and create a healthy and safe home environment.

Fifty parent support groups operate in in Mucwini and Lagoro, each comprising 13 couples, a lead mother and a village health team member. These groups meet once a month to discuss issues surrounding maternal, newborn and child health. While they provide couples with valuable knowledge and skills, the groups also create extended bonds in their communities, which serve to further improve maternal and child health.

Sarah's parent support group meets in Otto-Jamaica in Mucwini sub-county, and is moderated by Jackson, the village health team member. Sarah speaks highly of her group because of the knowledge she has gained in raising her children, including how to provide nutritious meals for her family. Above all she says being in this group has strengthened the bond between her and her husband. It's a prerequisite for this group and all the others that women attend with their husbands or partners. Some of the topics raised in the group gatherings are directed specifically towards men, such as how they can support their spouses to maintain healthy households.

Sarah, like many other women attending these groups, has noticed that her spouse has become more involved in their family's health and nutrition. Women are happy to note that their spouses willingly accompany them to attend the monthly group meetings; they discuss family planning issues with them (which is not the cultural norm); and above all they support them during pregnancy. They say these groups have also led to a reduction in stigma for people living with disability because they have support from their fellow members and–most importantly–their spouses.