Should we be talking about what we'd rather not talk about in Social Work research and practice?

My research asked the question: ‘How do socio-cultural characteristics and maternal health influence the parenting patterns of families of Pakistani origin living in Bradford?’ Emphasising the significant role parents play... [ view full abstract ]

My research asked the question: ‘How do socio-cultural characteristics and maternal health influence the parenting patterns of families of Pakistani origin living in Bradford?’ Emphasising the significant role parents play in the lives of their children is not an overstatement. And numerous studies have been conducted on parenting and child development including factors that influence parenting practices, among white indigenous groups. However, we know very little about some minority ethnic groups such as those of Pakistani families, and the influencing factors. Some BME groups have high concentration in some specific locations, for example, there is a particularly high concentration of Pakistani families in Bradford. This Born-in-Bradford (BIB cohort) database became an invaluable resource in selecting participants for this study, which was attached to the Maternal and Child Health theme of the BIB Research Cohort study and funded by CLARCH.

The study used a qualitative methodology, including face-to-face interviews and ethnographic observations of the participants to explore the impact of factors including religion and social support on Pakistani families’ parenting patterns. The data was analysed by an initial coding, identifying themes, grouping of patterns, and arriving at meaningful explanations.

Among other findings the study shows that family support, particularly with childcare and religion, strongly shape Pakistani families’ parenting patterns. Participants’ emphasis seems to indicate that acceptability of some forms of interventions within the community without a religious dimension to it might be limited. Religious dimension, not merely spirituality that repackages the notion of religious beliefs in some sort of deity, to include arts, crafts and other ephemerals that only water down clients/patients interest and desire in practice.

The study concludes that social work practitioners could minimise the sacred-secular divide by getting religious leaders involved in teaching key aspects of change in parenting and family life to secure interest and enhance engagement.