Tajikistan has the highest birth rate, of 29 births per 1,000, in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region and children under 6 years old comprise 17 percent of the population. Early Childhood Development (ECD) investments are some of the most cost-effective interventions and given the demographic context, Tajikistan can benefit more than other countries by building its human capital and empowering its workforce of the future. Globally, investing in children to build human capital is one of the best investments a country can make to eliminate extreme poverty, boost shared prosperity, and build the workforce of tomorrow. Tajikistan’s Human Capital Index (HCI) Score of 0.50 is lower than average for the region, reflecting that much more can be done to support children in achieving their potential. This report is intended to support policy makers in understanding the key features of an ECD program based on a rapid review of international ECD programs.
Naomi Rupasinghe, Lorna Benton, Kate Mandeville et al.
The aims of the study were to: (1) develop a set of instruments to measure the level of early childhood development (kindergarten group B), and (2) assess the quality of the developed instruments. This study is developmental research. The samples of the study were the students of kindergarten group B. The developed instrument was a set of questionnaires. Instrument testing was carried out in three stages with the number of subjects increased on each stage. The validity analysis of the questionnaire used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The reliability estimation of the questionnaire used composite reliability. The results of the study are in the form of instruments for measuring the level of early childhood development, which consists of an instrument to measure religious morality, social-emotional, language, cognitive, and physical-motor development. Based on field study, all instruments have a good fit model, construct validity, and reliability that meet the academic requirements of early childhood education.
I Wayan Gunartha, Tajularipin Sulaiman, Siti Partini Suardiman et al.
Malnutrition and impaired early childhood development continue to exist as two giant childhood health problems, particularly in the developing world. Both conditions often co-exist and exert effect on each other, aggravating the problems. Here we have studied the impact of malnutrition on early childhood development in different age groups, in a marginalized rural community in India, to identify the most vulnerable age group.
Method: We screened 837 children aged 0-3 years and 540 aged 3-6 years. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height and mid-arm circumference) were recorded and nutritional status determined by deriving the Z-score for weight for length. Developmental delay was assessed by Denver Development Screening Test II, TDSC scale and Amiel-Tyson method of tone assessment.
Result Occurrence of malnutrition was similar in both age groups (33-35%), with minimum incidence among 0-1 year olds. Incidence of developmental delay was 6.5% and 3.1% in 0-3 year and 3-6 year age groups respectively. In 0-3 years age group Incidence of developmental delay was significantly higher among children with malnutrition (p value <0.05); no such correlation was seen among the older children.
Conclusion: Malnutrition during 1st three years of life, is a major risk factor for poor neuro-developmental outcome. A multi-pronged approach to provide proper nutrition to mother and child, improve health and hygiene and adequate psychomotor stimulation will improve developmental outcome in children.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the coverage and factors associated with full immunisation coverage among children aged 12-59 months in Bangladesh. STUDY DESIGN: The study is cross sectional in design. Secondary dataset from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey was used for this analysis. Immunisation status was categorised as 'fully immunised' if the children had received all the eight recommended vaccine doses otherwise 'partially/unimmunised'. SETTINGS: Bangladesh. PARTICIPANT: Children aged 12-59 months were the study participants. Participants were randomly selected through a two-stage stratified sampling design. A total of 6230 children were eligible for the analysis. RESULTS: About 86% of the children (5356 out of 6230) were fully immunised. BCG has the highest coverage rate (97.1%) followed by oral polio vaccine 1 (97%) and pentavalent 1 (96.6%), where the coverage rate was the lowest for measles vaccine (88%). Coverage was higher in urban areas (88.5%) when compared with rural ones (85.1%). Full immunisation coverage was significantly higher among children who lived in the Rangpur division (adjusted OR (AOR)=3.46; 95% CI 2.45 to 4.88, p<0.001), were 48-59 months old (AOR=1.32; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.64, p=0.013), lived in a medium size family (AOR=1.56; 95% CI 1.32 to 1.86, p<0.001), had parents with a higher level of education (AOR=1.96; 95% CI 1.21 to 3.17, p=0.006 and AOR=1.55; 95% CI 1.05 to 2.29, p=0.026) and belonged to the richest families (AOR=2.2; 95% CI 1.5 to 3.21, p<0.001). The likelihood of being partially or unimmunised was higher among children who had the father as their sole healthcare decision-maker (AOR=0.69; 95% CI 0.51 to 0.92, p<0.012). CONCLUSIONS: There were significant variations of child immunisation coverage across socioeconomic and demographic factors. These findings will inform innovative approaches for immunisation programmes, and the introduction of relevant policies, including regular monitoring and evaluation of immunisation coverage-particularly for low-performing regions, so that the broader benefit of immunisation programmes can be achieved in all strata of the society.
Abdur Razzaque Sarker, Raisul Akram, Nausad Ali et al.
Early childhood is a critical period for learning, training good or bad habit. So, the parent must provide their children with appropriate moral behavior for real-world and daily life. This study examines the results of the MBST Program on early childhood development by parents. A quasi-experimental design was 30 children, ages 5-6, in each group while studying at a kindergarten, Thailand. The intervention group participated in the MBST Program with their parents. Data was collected using a paired t-test. The results showed that the intervention group had significantly higher mean moral scores after attending the program than before as well as higher scores compared to the comparison group (p<0.001). This study suggests that children demonstrated improved behavior using the MBST book. Consequently, organizations such as children’s groups should utilize storytelling to spread these benefits. Storytellers may not be limited to parents and can include other caregivers.
This analysis investigates the impact of parental absence on early childhood development in Thailand, using the Denver II screening tool, based on a study conducted in 2013–2014. Children aged 36 months and younger were included ( n = 923). Results reveal that the crucial factor for delayed development in early childhood is the mother’s presence in the household. Children who were cared for by others were not at higher risk of delayed development as long as their mother was present, while the father’s absence did not make a difference. This study raises concern for the large number of children living separately from their mothers, and also raises questions about the long-term effects of parental migration for this generation of Thai children.
Aree Jampaklay, Kerry Richter, Kanchana Tangchonlatip et al.
This study investigates the socioeconomic determinants of early childhood development (ECD) in Pakistan by utilizing the data of sixth wave of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in the four provinces of the country. The findings of the study reveal that mother's education, father's education, economic status of the household as measured by household's wealth index quintile, region of residence (province), child's gender, disability, nutrition and the practices used by the adult members of the household to discipline child are important determinants of ECD. The study highlights the crucial role of family background and importance of addressing the issue of malnutrition to foster child development.
Summary In China, low levels of early childhood development (ECD) in rural areas may inhibit economic development as the nation attempts to transition from a middle-income manufacturing-based economy to a high-income innovation economy. This paper surveys the recent literature on ECD among children ages 0-3 years in rural China, including rates of developmental delays, causes of delays, and implications for the future of China's economy. Recent studies have found high rates of developmental delays among young children in rural China and point to poor nutrition and psychosocial stimulation as the primary causes. This review highlights the need for large-scale ECD interventions in rural China to raise human capital and support future economic growth.
This article explores the evolving role of fathers in early childhood development through a child rights lens. Anchored in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)—particularly Articles 5, 18, and 27, which stress the best interests of the child—it challenges the enduring stereotype of fathers as solely financial providers. Employing a normative-analytical approach, the paper critically reviews international legal frameworks and scholarly literature to identify socio-cultural and institutional barriers to paternal involvement, especially within the Global South. Focusing on Indonesia—due to its recent legal reforms and entrenched gender norms—the study proposes a reconceptualisation of fatherhood across four key dimensions: emotional presence, hands-on caregiving, respectful dialogue, and cooperative co-parenting. It presents a set of evidence-informed policy and practice recommendations that position fathers as active, equal partners in nurturing and protecting young children. By offering a rights-based normative framework, this study contributes to global discourse on gender-transformative parenting and affirms every child’s right to balanced, nurturing care from both parents. This conceptual contribution connects legal, cultural, and policy domains, advancing a vision of fatherhood grounded in justice, equity, and the principles of the CRC.
A community dialogue intervention with an appreciative inquiry approach was undertaken to improve institutional delivery and child immunisation coverage in a hard-to-reach province, namely, Kandahar, in Afghanistan. This study aimed to evaluate the intervention's effectiveness in promoting institutional delivery and child immunisation. A pre-post intervention evaluation study. An intervention and a non-intervention district were selected in Kandahar. Children aged under 5 years participated in surveys at baseline (October 2018) and follow-up (Post-intervention: November 2019). We analysed age, sex, place of birth, and confirmed immunisation coverage data concerning 1046 and 927 children pre- and post-interventions, respectively. Changes in institutional delivery and confirmed immunisation status were evaluated using net intervention effect and difference-in-difference (DID) analysis. Institutional delivery rates increased from 66.3 % to 83.6 % (p = 0.016) in the intervention district and decreased from 71.3 % to 46.7 % (p < 0.001) in the non-intervention district, with a net intervention effect of 41.9 %. Full immunisation coverage among children aged 12–23 months and 24–35 months significantly increased from 26.4 % to 76.9 % (p < 0.001) and from 40.0 % to 78.6 % (p < 0.001), respectively, in the intervention district, whereas coverage significantly decreased in the non-intervention district. The net intervention effects were 59.1 % and 44.8 % for children aged 12–23 months and 24–35 months, respectively. The DID analysis also revealed significant differences in outcomes after intervention at follow-up. The results concerning antigen-specific immunisation coverage indicated a significant increase in immunisation coverage in the intervention district. The appreciative inquiry-based community dialogue intervention considerably increased institutional delivery and child immunisation coverage, even in a hard-to-reach province in Afghanistan.
Shafiqullah Hemat, Sharifullah Alemi, Sadia Ahmady et al.
