Current Pediatric Research

Introduction: Early childhood is the period of most rapid brain development. Early Childhood Development (ECD) is considered a prime investment for future prosperity in all dimensions, and the nurturing care framework provides a roadmap for promoting ECD. The deliverables for Nurturing Care (NC) are simple and affordable but require a robust delivery system with multi-stakeholder involvement to reach all caregivers, who are the ultimate implementing agents. Determining how to develop an effective ECD-NC delivery system can be a perplexing primary healthcare issue, unique to each country and community.

Objectives: To devise a cost-effective and sustainable program through the mediation of trained ECD activists from the community and to promote ECD-NC in remote, rural India by motivating and empowering mothers to implement nurturing care.

Method: In a rural community with an estimated 8,000 children between the ages of zero and six, eight local women were trained on ECD and NC delivery techniques. These women conducted an intensive and sustained 22-week awareness program in the form of weekly mother-child group meetings, in which more than 800 mothers participated. The impact of the program on the mothers’ knowledge, attitude and practices was assessed by the investigating team.

Results: Comparing the baseline and end-line data revealed a significant change (p<0.005) in the knowledge, attitude and practice of parents, with respect to the nurturing care framework, following the participatory intervention program. When questioned directly about new knowledge or skills they had acquired, mothers mentioned making toys at home (62.8%), spending more time and engaging with children (65.1%), talking, telling stories, and reading with the child (21%).

Conclusion: Training ECD activists in the community to conduct regular, sustained group activities with mothers is a simple, cost-effective way to reach large populations simultaneously and bring about a tangible change in ECD promotion.

Author(s): Nandita Chattopadhyay1*, Swati Basu2

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