Work

Nurturing Care: Science and Effective Interventions to Promote Early Childhood Development

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: BackgroundEven though global attention to early childhood development has been increasing, an estimated 43% of children under 5 years of age in low and middle income countries are not achieving their developmental potential (Black, et al., in series).The aim of this paper is to synthesize reviews of the new science and impact of interventions at critical time periods that address risk factors and conditions contributing to poor development outcomes. MethodsWe conducted a synthesis of systematic reviews of health, nutrition, education, child protection, social protection, and parenting interventions (from 2011-2015) from preconception through the transition to primary school.The interventions were intended to promote nurturing care and protection behaviours in addition to caregiver and child wellbeing.We also searched the reference lists of recent overviews in health and nutrition that included evidence-based interventions across the sectors.Findings Only a few interventions reviewed were multi-sectoral and most were implemented primarily as single sector interventions.To make them smarter and sustainable to improve developmental outcomes, the interventions need to: (i) include elements of nurturing care and protection; (ii) be implemented as packages that combine interventions across sectors to target multiple risks; (iii) be applied at developmentally appropriate times during the life-course; and (iv) build on existing delivery platforms to enhance feasibility of scale-up and sustainability.Interpretation While interventions will continue to be improved as new understanding of early human development emerges, the evidence is now strong about what can be done to improve implementation and consequently improve the development, health, and well-being of young children.Drawing on this knowledge, action is needed to support parents, caregivers, and families in providing the nurturing care and protection that young children need to achieve their developmental potential.

Source: ePrints Soton (University of Southampton)