scholarly journals Protocol to develop sustainable day care for children aged 1–4 years in disadvantaged urban communities in Dhaka, Bangladesh

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. e024101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahua Das ◽  
Helen Elsey ◽  
Riffat Ara Shawon ◽  
Joseph Hicks ◽  
J Ferdoush ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Early Development ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Day Care ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Early Learning ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Medicine Research ◽  
Children Under 5

IntroductionLack of safe, stimulating and health-promoting environments for children under-5 hinders their physical, social and cognitive development, known as early childhood development (ECD). Improving ECD impacts on children, and can improve educational attainment for girls, who often care for younger siblings, and employment prospects for mothers. Developing and evaluating the impacts of ECD programmes within childcare needs to assess a range of social, health, educational and economic impacts, including women’s empowerment.Children living in slums are at high risk of poor early development and holistic, sustainable interventions are needed to address ECD in these contexts. This study will be undertaken in Dhaka, Bangladesh, a city where over 8.5 million inhabitants live in slums. In collaboration with government, non-governmental organisations and communities, we are developing and testing a sustainable day-care model for low-income communities in Dhaka.Methodology and analysisA sequential mixed methods approach is being used in the study, with qualitative work exploring quantitative findings. Two hundred households with children under-5 will be surveyed to determine day-care needs and to assess ECD (parent-reported and direct assessment). The feasibility of four ECD measuring tools Caregiver-Reported Early Development Index, Measuring Early Learning Quality and Outcomes, The Early Human Capability Index and International Development and Early Learning Assessment will be assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. Qualitative methods will help understand demand and perceptions of day care while mothers work. Participatory action research will be used to develop a locally appropriate and potentially sustainable model of day care for under-5 children. A ward in the south of Dhaka has been selected for the study as this typifies communities with slum and non-slum households living next to each other, allowing us to explore potential for better-off household to subsidise day care for poorer households.Ethics and disseminationFindings will be published and inform decision makers at the national, regional and the local actors in order to embed the study into the policy and practice on childcare and ECD. Ethical approvals for this study were obtained from the School of Medicine Research Ethics Committee at the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Leeds (ref: MREC16-106) and the Bangladesh Medical Research Council (ref: BMRCAIREC/20 I 6-20 I 9 I 250).

Association between Low Cognition and Low–income in Rural Pakistani Children

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 3507-3510
Author(s):  
Irum Gilani ◽  
Ziyad Afzal Kayani ◽  
Sarmud Lateef Awan
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Intelligence Quotient ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Childhood Poverty ◽  
Low Income Children

Objective: Numerous studies have concluded relationship of the childhood poverty to the impaired academic performance ultimately contributing to low wages and income in the adult life. Objective of this study was to assess the association between household income and the cognitive potential of children. Methodology: In this cross–sectional study, cognitive potential of 6 to 7 years old children (n=300) from a rural district of Pakistan was assessed through an indicator of the cognitive development called Intelligence Quotient (IQ) or Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) which was calculated by utilizing fourth edition of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI–IV). Data on the sociodemographic profile was collected through mother’s questionnaire. Results: Low cognitive potential or IQ of the rural Pakistani children was found to be associated with the low–income of the household. Conclusion: Early childhood development programmes in Pakistan ought to incorporate cognitive–stimulation strategies designed for the low–income children belonging to the rural place of residence in order to disrupt the transmission of poverty to the next generation. Keywords: poverty, rural, IQ, children, productivity, Pakistan, cognition, low–income, socioeconomic

scholarly journals The D-score: a metric for interpreting the early development of infants and toddlers across global settings

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. e001724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann M Weber ◽  
Marta Rubio-Codina ◽  
Susan P Walker ◽  
Stef van Buuren ◽  
Iris Eekhout ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Middle Childhood ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Maternal Education ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Receptive Vocabulary ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Scale Properties ◽  
Existing Data

IntroductionEarly childhood development can be described by an underlying latent construct. Global comparisons of children’s development are hindered by the lack of a validated metric that is comparable across cultures and contexts, especially for children under age 3 years. We constructed and validated a new metric, the Developmental Score (D-score), using existing data from 16 longitudinal studies.MethodsStudies had item-level developmental assessment data for children 0–48 months and longitudinal outcomes at ages >4–18 years, including measures of IQ and receptive vocabulary. Existing data from 11 low-income, middle-income and high-income countries were merged for >36 000 children. Item mapping produced 95 ‘equate groups’ of same-skill items across 12 different assessment instruments. A statistical model was built using the Rasch model with item difficulties constrained to be equal in a subset of equate groups, linking instruments to a common scale, the D-score, a continuous metric with interval-scale properties. D-score-for-age z-scores (DAZ) were evaluated for discriminant, concurrent and predictive validity to outcomes in middle childhood to adolescence.ResultsConcurrent validity of DAZ with original instruments was strong (average r=0.71), with few exceptions. In approximately 70% of data rounds collected across studies, DAZ discriminated between children above/below cut-points for low birth weight (<2500 g) and stunting (−2 SD below median height-for-age). DAZ increased significantly with maternal education in 55% of data rounds. Predictive correlations of DAZ with outcomes obtained 2–16 years later were generally between 0.20 and 0.40. Correlations equalled or exceeded those obtained with original instruments despite using an average of 55% fewer items to estimate the D-score.ConclusionThe D-score metric enables quantitative comparisons of early childhood development across ages and sets the stage for creating simple, low-cost, global-use instruments to facilitate valid cross-national comparisons of early childhood development.

scholarly journals Facilitating the Participation of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Development Centres in Malawi: Developing a Sustainable Staff Training Programme

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 2104
Author(s):  
Anita Soni ◽  
Paul Lynch ◽  
Mike McLinden ◽  
Jenipher Mbukwa-Ngwira ◽  
Mika Mankhwazi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Children With Disabilities ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan

This article explores the development of a sustainable training programme supporting the inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood, education and care (ECEC) centres in Malawi. This programme is based on a review of literature of curriculum, pedagogy and teaching approaches in ECEC in sub-Saharan Africa, alongside a review of national policy documents. The training was designed to enable staff to value the inclusion of children with disabilities in ECEC centres, as well as suggesting practical ways to do so. We set out our response to the gap in training of ECEC staff through the development of a supplementary integrated training programme, which, whilst respectful of the curriculum, policy and practice of Malawi, challenged staff to consider ways of including children with disabilities (CWD) and their families. We suggest this is a pragmatic and sustainable model that could be applied to training in other ECEC settings across the region in sub-Saharan Africa. It concludes with guiding principles for training those working in ECEC with young children with disabilities in low-income countries.

Challenges for Evidence-Based Care for Children With Developmental Delays in Nicaragua

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 226-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abraham A. Salinas-Miranda ◽  
Eric A. Storch ◽  
Robert Nelson ◽  
Claudia Evans-Baltodano
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Developmental Delays ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Low Income Country ◽  
Evidence Based Care

Evidence of successful models for promoting early childhood development and for effectively addressing developmental delays is available, yet the adoption of evidence-based strategies is limited in low-income countries. Nicaragua, a low-income country on the Central American isthmus, faces policy-, organizational-, and community-level obstacles which prevent families from receiving the benefits of early child development programs as well as other necessary services for children at risk of or with developmental delays. Failing to address developmental delays in a timely manner leads to detrimental social and economic consequences for families and society at large. In this article, we examine existing information on early childhood development in Nicaragua and discuss some programmatic implications for the recognition and early intervention of developmental delays in Nicaragua.

scholarly journals Methodological reflections on the use of systematic reviews in early childhood research

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynn Ang
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
International Development ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Disciplinary Field

This article sets out to look critically at the use of systematic reviews in the cross-disciplinary field of early childhood and international development. Systematic reviews – a specialist methodology involving the secondary analysis of existing knowledge on a particular topic – is prevalently used to address complex questions in social and health-related policy and is an established tradition in the life and health sciences. In education and the social sciences, there is burgeoning interest in systematic methodological approaches, although its usage remains comparatively lagging compared to the medical field. Drawing on an interdisciplinary systematic review of empirical research on early childhood development and peacebuilding in the Asia Pacific region, this article reflects on the use of the methodology and its potential to inform new conceptual and methodological developments. The article argues that our knowledge of children and the early years can be significantly advanced by furthering debates on systematic reviews particularly in cross-disciplinary fields and its application, as well as relevance for how evidence is evaluated and applied. This is especially pertinent in a sector driven by increasing calls for more reliable and timely information to influence practice and policy decision-making.

scholarly journals Aboriginal Status and Neighborhood Income Inequality Moderate the Relationship between School Absenteeism and Early Childhood Development

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 1347
Author(s):  
Nazeem Muhajarine ◽  
Daphne McRae ◽  
Mohsen Soltanifar
Keyword(s):  
Income Inequality ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
School Absenteeism ◽  
School Absence ◽  
Moderating Factors ◽  
Neighborhood Income ◽  
Aboriginal Children ◽  
The Relationship

The negative impact of school absenteeism on children’s academic performance has been documented in the educational literature, yet few studies have used validated development indicators, or investigated individual and neighborhood characteristics to illuminate potential moderating factors. Using cross-sectional Early Development Instrument (EDI) panel data (2001–2005) we constructed multilevel linear and logistic regression models to examine the association between school absenteeism and early childhood development, moderated by Aboriginal status, length of school absence, neighborhood-level income inequality, and children’s sex assigned at birth. Our study included 3572 children aged four to eight in 56 residential neighborhoods in Saskatoon, Canada. Results indicated that Aboriginal children missing an average number of school days (3.63 days) had significantly lower EDI scores compared to non-Aboriginal children, controlling for individual and neighborhood factors. As school absenteeism lengthened, the gap in EDI scores between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children narrowed, becoming non-significant for absences greater than two weeks. Children with long-term school absence (>4 weeks of school), living in neighborhoods of low income inequality, had significantly better physical and social development scores compared to children from medium or high income inequality neighborhoods. Across all EDI domains, girls living in neighborhoods with low income inequality had significantly better EDI scores than boys in similar neighborhoods; however, sex-differences in EDI scores were not apparent for children residing in high income inequality neighborhoods. Results add to the literature by demonstrating differences in the relationship between school absenteeism and early developmental outcomes moderated by Aboriginal status, length of school absence, neighborhood income inequality, and sex assigned at birth. These moderating factors show that differential approaches are necessary when implementing policies and programs aimed at improving school attendance.

Maternal knowledge, stimulation, and early childhood development in low‐income families in Colombia

Infancy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 526-534
Author(s):  
Jorge Cuartas ◽  
Catalina Rey‐Guerra ◽  
Dana Charles McCoy ◽  
Emily Hanno
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Maternal Knowledge ◽  
Low Income Families

scholarly journals Measuring and forecasting progress in education: what about early childhood?

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda M. Richter ◽  
Jere R. Behrman ◽  
Pia Britto ◽  
Claudia Cappa ◽  
Caroline Cohrssen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Preschool Education ◽  
Early Learning ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Childhood Care

AbstractA recent Nature article modelled within-country inequalities in primary, secondary, and tertiary education and forecast progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets related to education (SDG 4). However, their paper entirely overlooks inequalities in achieving Target 4.2, which aims to achieve universal access to quality early childhood development, care and preschool education by 2030. This is an important omission because of the substantial brain, cognitive and socioemotional developments that occur in early life and because of increasing evidence of early-life learning’s large impacts on subsequent education and lifetime wellbeing. We provide an overview of this evidence and use new analyses to illustrate medium- and long-term implications of early learning, first by presenting associations between pre-primary programme participation and adolescent mathematics and science test scores in 73 countries and secondly, by estimating the costs of inaction (not making pre-primary programmes universal) in terms of forgone lifetime earnings in 134 countries. We find considerable losses, comparable to or greater than current governmental expenditures on all education (as percentages of GDP), particularly in low- and lower-middle-income countries. In addition to improving primary, secondary and tertiary schooling, we conclude that to attain SDG 4 and reduce inequalities in a post-COVID era, it is essential to prioritize quality early childhood care and education, including adopting policies that support families to promote early learning and their children’s education.

scholarly journals Ages & Stages Questionnaire–Brazil–2011

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 2333794X1561003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina M. T. Santana ◽  
Alberto Filgueiras ◽  
J. Landeira-Fernandez
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Internal Consistency ◽  
Day Care ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Social Domain ◽  
Day Care Centers ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Characteristics Method

Introduction. Professionals who assess early childhood development highly benefit from reliable development screening measures. The Ages & Stages Questionnaire was adapted Brazil in 2010 and named ASQ-BR. Modifications in some items were required to improve the instrument’s psychometric properties. The present study modified the ASQ-BR to verify if those changes increase its characteristics. Method. This study researched 67 522 children from 972 public day care centers and preschools. Changes in items were made considering Cronbach’s α and item-to-total correlations. Reliability, dimensionality, and item-to-total correlations were calculated. Results. Regarding dimensionality, 86.2% of the scales in ASQ-BR-2011 were unidimensional. Internal consistency showed improvement from 2010 to 2011: 53.8% of the scales increased the α statistics against 41.2% that decreased, and 5.0% remained the same. Finally, 65.2% of the modified items showed improvement. Conclusions. Overall, the instrument’s psychometrics improved from 2010 to 2011, especially in the personal/social domain. However, it still leaves room for improvement in future studies.

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