Peer-reviewed article
Effectiveness of a nurse-led early stimulation and parenting programme for neurodevelopment among toddlers at risk of stunting: A quasi-experimental study
R Setia Sari, S Kusnul Khotimah ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study tested a six-week programme in which nurses ran weekly sessions of play-based stimulation and parenting education for toddlers at risk of stunting in Tangerang Regency, Indonesia. It compared 100 toddlers who received the programme with 100 who received routine care. After the programme, the intervention group had higher adjusted scores on all five Bayley-III domains: cognitive, receptive language, expressive language, fine motor and gross motor. Pretest scores and session attendance predicted post-test results, while maternal education and child's age did not. The authors suggest the model could be added to primary healthcare services in low- and middle-income countries.
Key points
- 200 toddlers aged 36 months took part: 100 in the intervention group and 100 in the control group.
- The intervention was six weekly nurse-led sessions combining play-based stimulation and parenting education; the control group received routine care.
- The intervention group scored significantly higher on all Bayley-III domains (p<0.001 for each).
- Pretest scores (p<0.001) and session attendance (p<0.05) predicted post-test outcomes.
- Maternal education and child's age were not significant predictors.
Limitations
The abstract does not say how the groups were assigned, how long the benefits last, or whether the programme works outside Tangerang Regency. The effect sizes are modest (η² about 0.08 to 0.11), and the study cannot show lasting effects, since only post-intervention scores are reported.
Abstract
Background. Stunting remains a major public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Indonesia, with consequences extending beyond linear growth deficits to impaired neurodevelopment. Although early stimulation and parenting interventions have been shown to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes and mitigate these effects, few studies have evaluated structured, nurse-led programmes targeting toddlers at risk of stunting. Objective. To assess the effectiveness of a nurse-led early stimulation and structured parenting education intervention on neurodevelopment among toddlers at risk of stunting. Methods. This quasi-experimental pretest–post-test control group study involved 200 toddlers aged 36 months in Tangerang Regency, Indonesia. There were 100 participants in the intervention group and 100 in the control group. The intervention group received six weekly nurse-led sessions incorporating play-based stimulation and parenting education, while the control group received routine care. The Bayley‑III Scales of Infant and Toddler Development were used to measure neurodevelopmental outcomes, which were analysed using ANCOVA and multiple linear regression. Results. Postintervention, the intervention group showed significantly higher adjusted scores across all Bayley‑III domains, namely cognitive (F=20.21; p<0.001; η²=0.093), receptive language (F=18.64; p<0.001; η²=0.087), expressive language (F=17.82; p<0.001; η²=0.083), fine motor (F=21.47; p<0.001; η²=0.098) and gross motor (F=24.10; p<0.001; η²=0.109). Regression analysis revealed that pretest scores (p<0.001) and session attendance (p<0.05) were significant predictors of post-test outcomes, while maternal education and child’s age were not. Conclusion. Nurse-led early stimulation and parenting interventions were associated with significant improvements in neurodevelopmental outcomes among toddlers at risk of stunting. This model could be integrated into primary healthcare services and may provide a scalable approach to addressing developmental delays in LMICs.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Six weekly nurse-led sessions combining play-based early stimulation and structured parenting education
- Population
- 200 toddlers aged 36 months at risk of stunting in Tangerang Regency, Indonesia (100 intervention, 100 control)
Key finding
Cognitive: F=20.21, p<0.001, η²=0.093 in favour of the intervention group
Sari et al. · OpenAlex · 1 Oct 2026