Challenges and Assets for Promoting Early Childhood Development in Indonesia: A Health Statistics Review from a Community Health Perspective

Background: Although early childhood development is important, there are limited health statistics reviews related to the early childhood development in Indonesia. This study organized statistical health information across 33 Indonesian provinces to assess ongoing challenges and existing assets for improving early childhood development. Information about early childhood development in Indonesia between 2007 and 2013 was obtained through data supplied by the Indonesian Ministry of Health and the Indonesian Central Bureau of Statistics. Methods: The information collected was organized into five domains of early childhood development: health, nutrition, responsive care giving, early learning, and security and safety. Challenges and assets in Indonesia were assessed in terms of early childhood development. Results: Our results indicated that although the child mortality rate decreased between 2007 and 2013, it remained higher than the global average, with large disparities between provinces. Background factors influencing child mortality rates included the limited availability of health services, large catchment areas for puskesmas (community health centers), parents' limited caregiving responsiveness, and limited opportunities for parents to achieve advanced education. However, our results also revealed several important assets, including the existence of community health posts, alert village programs, community volunteers, and a large number of nurses and midwives; Conclusions: To improve early childhood development in Indonesia, it is important to empower parents to utilize these community health-related assets. Nurses and kaders (community health volunteers) should promote parents' enhanced awareness of child health and development.

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African indigenous care-giving practices: Stimulating early childhood development and education in Kenya

South African Journal of Childhood Education ◽

10.4102/sajce.v6i2.446 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 7 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Pamela Wadende ◽

Paul O. Oburu ◽

Abel Morara

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Teaching And Learning ◽

Early Childhood Development ◽

Indigenous Education ◽

Indigenous Communities ◽

Childhood Development ◽

Formal Schooling ◽

Motivational Systems ◽

Stage Of Development ◽

Care Giving

The indigenous communities in Africa, specifically Kenya, which is the focus of this article, had their own well-developed motivational systems that positively enhanced teaching and learning programmes in the community. These motivational systems were manifested in behaviours that were presented as sequential cultural tasks that demanded active engagement from children at every stage of development. The philosophical tenets of African indigenous education underscored education as preparation for life. This was a culturally based education that addressed the physical, emotional, mental and social aspects of a child’s successful development. It offered the child an opportunity to participate in practical, productive and responsible livelihood activities. This article suggests that a concert of research into these indigenous motivational care-giving practices and community participation in the activities of early childhood education may offer important insights into transitioning children from life in the home environment to that of the school and its accompanying academic tasks. When these motivational care-giving practices are incorporated in the process of transitioning children to formal schooling, then their chances of success in these new educational programmes could be enhanced.

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Implementation Research for the Evaluation of the Child Health Education and Surveillance Tool Application

10.21203/rs.3.rs-491310/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Christopher M Westgard

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Child Health ◽

Community Health ◽

Implementation Research ◽

Early Childhood Development ◽

Digital Health ◽

Evaluation Study ◽

Childhood Development ◽

Childrearing Practices ◽

Community Health Agent

Abstract Community health agent programs and modern information and communication technology can greatly improve knowledge of healthy childrearing practices by caregivers in low resource settings, if implemented effectively. Improved knowledge by caregivers can lead to better sanitation, diet, and child development practices. A digital health tool (CHEST App) was developed and deployed in a community health agent program in the Amazon of Peru to improve community health agent performance and ultimately improve early childhood development in the communities. This study presents the results of and evaluation of the implementation and clinical outcomes of the program. METHODS The CHEST App intervention was evaluated using a Hybrid Type II evaluation study design. The effectiveness of the intervention was determined by conducted a paired t-test analysis to compare the mean differences in knowledge scores, hemoglobin levels, early childhood development (ECD) scores, and incidence of diarrhea. The evaluation of the implementation outcomes was conducted with a mixed method approach to identify the extent to which the intervention was successfully installed into the local CHA program. The results of the study are presented within the framework of the Implementation Research Logic Model. RESULTS The CHEST App intervention is associated with improvements in knowledge scores, hemoglobin levels, ECD scores, and decreased diarrhea. However, the evaluation could not isolate the effect of the intervention due to reduction in sample size from COVID-19 closures. The implementation of the CHEST App intervention was effective with high degrees of acceptability, adoption, and fidelity. Adoption and fidelity of the surveillance function of the CHEST App by program coordinators was not achieved. CONCLUSION The CHEST App intervention is a promising tool to improve the performance of CHAs during their home visits, to accomplish their objective of teaching caregivers healthy childrearing practices and improving child health and development in their communities. Trial Registration Trial registered on 11/29/2018 at ISRCTN43591826.

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