Child Development Policy Research Articles

The role of caregivers in mental health and child development policy and practice

The role of caregivers in mental health and child development policy and practice

Bioecological factors associated with gross motor skills of preschool children

ABSTRACT Motor skills during early childhood play a significant role in child development. We used the bioecological model to determine the bioecological factors associated with preschool children's gross motor skills (GMS). The GMS of randomly sampled 280 children were tested using a standardized checklist. The background variables theoretically framed in process, person and context characteristics were applied for multilevel logistic regression models. The children whose parents engaged daily in child-stimulating activities and who had family income above the mean were 2.3 times more likely to have normal GMS. Moreover, the children from the schools equipped with toys were 2.7 times more likely to be normal. Interestingly, the children who had teachers with higher degrees and more extended experience were less likely to be normal in GMS, demanding further exploration. Therefore, national child development policies and programmes should ensure parental support and the provision of motivated teachers.

Effects of Father’s Absence on Child Growth and Development During Early Years

Presence of both mother and father are crucial for optimum emotional,spiritual and physical development of children. The main purpose of thisstudy was to explore mother perceptions regarding the effects of father’sabsence on child growth and development. The qualitative approach wasused to explore this phenomenon with mothers of 1 to 8 years oldchildren, where father was absent since last six months. Two focus groupdiscussions and five In-depth interviews were conducted in three middleclass communities of Karachi, Pakistan. Each FGD involved 10 motherswho were recruited through purposive sampling and consented toparticipate. Findings of the current study have been categorized into fourmain themes as father's role in child development, Problems mothersface while nurturing their children and the support systems of mothersand family. Study concluded that physical absent of father contributed innegative outcome on child emotional, social, psychological and physicaldevelopment. Mother experienced stress and depression while handlingmany responsibilities on everyday lives. Girl child and boy child bothsuffers equally and need their father presence in social and academicactivities and daily life. While making programs for holistic childdevelopment policy maker should consider this issue.

Transition to gender equality

Gender equality is a great concern in many countries; however, transition to gender equality requires major transformations in many aspects such as access to education, ownership of property, participation in decision making and access to employment. For instance, school age girls in some countries are not enrolled in schools or never complete their schooling due to early marriage or involvement in child labour compounded by household poverty unlike boys. Indeed, social traditions and culture confront transition to gender equality despite the advocacy for women empowerment through a number of policies such as education policy, employment policy and child development policy and many others. Lack of access to education inhibits young women from obtaining employable skills in turn aggravating socioeconomic difficulties among women. However, effective social protection through cash transfers can help many households to have income which supports child’s needs like enrollment to schools. Objective Exploring factors influencing transition to gender equality. Methods The study employed qualitative research method by conducting a systematic literature review from general and special repositories on gender equality to highlight issues pertaining to gender equality. Results The study highlighted that gender inequality continues to impact women and girls from all sorts of walks of life such as limited access to social economic and political aspects. However, restriction on women from access to education aggravates all sorts of difficulties faced by women and girls. Conclusion The study concludes that governments and civil society should tackle the root causes that lead to gender inequality, and national resources be used to improve human capital including women and girls.

Women's Empowerment Matters: Evidence from the Health and Education Sectors in Developing Worlds

This study examines the effect of female empowerment on child development in developing countries. Using comprehensive panel data from seventy-eight developing countries between 2000 and 2018, this research assesses the impact of political and economic empowerment of females on the health and education of children. The major findings include (1) that GDP per capita, health expenditure, and the official development assistance are not significantly reducing immunization, child mortality, and primary school enrollment; (2) that women's empowerment in political and economic fields is not significantly affecting the above-mentioned dependent variables; and (3) that when those two kinds of explanatory variables interact, women's empowerment is positively associated with immunization rate and primary school enrollment rate in countries with an income level lower than 1,500–2,000 USD, mainly located in East Africa. Such findings suggest that in certain economic levels, female empowerment and child development policies are complementary and should go hand in hand.

Reviewing the Evidence on Prenatal Opioid Exposure to Inform Child Development Policy and Practice.

Prenatal opioid use is increasingly common and can have adverse impacts on maternal and child health. In Ontario, there are no clear guidelines or universal programs to support the healthy development of children with prenatal opioid exposure. We present the epidemiology of prenatal opioid exposure in Ontario, summarize research examining child health outcomes with a focus on child development, review emerging guidelines for child health and developmental surveillance and highlight promising programs. We emphasize the need to strengthen current Canadian recommendations for routine enhanced developmental and vision screening and ensure funding for evidence-based integrated maternal/child services.

PRINSIP DAN KEBIJAKAN DALAM PENGEMBANGAN KOTA LAYAK ANAK BERDASARKAN PERATURAN MENTERI NEGARA PEMBERDAYAAN PEREMPUAN DAN PERLINDUNGAN ANAK NOMOR 11 TAHUN 2011 TENTANG KEBIJAKAN PENGEMBANGAN KABUPATEN/KOTA LAYAK ANAK

Family is the smallest government, where there are problems or conflicts that occur in both parenting, protection, supervision, education and giving freedom in choosing skills, favorites that can be developed and applied in society and for the future. Seeing more and more cases of bullying, violence in schools and in the community is growing, worrying parents. Based on that background, the formulation of the problem is whether the Principles and Policies in The Development of ChildrenWorthy Cities based on the Regulation of the Minister of State for Women Empowerment and Child Protection on Child Development Policy No. 11 of 2011. Based on Article 5, it affirms that the government in creating programs and policies that put children's rights first, both to grow and develop children because the current growth of the child will have an impact on their lives in the future. Give breadth so that the child can give his opinion according to his point of view, because we do not know that there is a great potential that exists on each side of the child. Children are the next generation of the nation, the pride of every parent and family, who must be looked after and protected as best they can. Under Article 6, its policy governs a. civil rights and freedoms; b. family environment and alternative parenting; c. basic health and well-being; d. education, leisure use, and cultural activities; and e. special protection. The principles in government management must be transparency, accountability, participation, information disclosure, and legal supremacy, and not discrimination or discriminating between tribes, races, cultures and others. The policy on children's rights is a civil right in which the right to identity is the child hasa birth certificate.

Skill Formation and the Trouble with Child Non-Cognitive Skill Measures

Research on child skill formation and related policies typically rely on parent- reported measures of child non-cognitive skills. In this paper, we show that parental assessments of child non-cognitive skills are directly affected by the skills of the parents. We develop a dynamic model of child and parental skill formation that accounts for this contamination and show how standard estimates of the production of skills are affected. We then use our model to illustrate how contamination in parental measures of child non-cognitive skills affects estimates of child development policies that also directly affect parental skills.

Learning across the UK: a review of public health systems and policy approaches to early child development since political devolution.

BackgroundGiving children the best start in life is critical for their future health and wellbeing. Political devolution in the UK provides a natural experiment to explore how public health systems contribute to children’s early developmental outcomes across four countries.MethodA systematic literature review and input from a stakeholder group was used to develop a public health systems framework. This framework then informed analysis of public health policy approaches to early child development.ResultsA total of 118 studies met the inclusion criteria. All national policies championed a ‘prevention approach’ to early child development. Political factors shaped divergence, with variation in national conceptualizations of child development (‘preparing for life’ versus ‘preparing for school’) and pre-school provision (‘universal entitlement’ or ‘earned benefit’). Poverty and resourcing were identified as key system factors that influenced outcomes. Scotland and Wales have enacted distinctive legislation focusing on wider determinants. However, this is limited by the extent of devolved powers.ConclusionThe systems framework clarifies policy complexity relating to early child development. The divergence of child development policies in the four countries and, particularly, the explicit recognition in Scottish and Welsh policy of wider determinants, creates scope for this topic to be a tracer area to compare UK public health systems longer term.

Helping Communities Improve Child Development Outcomes: The Importance of Governance in the Kids in Communities Study (KiCS)

THIS CASE STUDY CONSIDERS the multi-level governance environment of child development policy in two suburbs in Victoria, Australia. The mixed methodology draws on material from the governance domai...

The Application of Para Social Work Training in Physically and Sexually Abused Girls Under 18 Years of Age in Tanzania: A Case Study of Temeke Municipality, Dar es Salaam Region

The article presents a case of Para Social work training which basically aim at explaining how this training is essential in providing care and support to young Girls who are physically and sexually abused in Tanzania. It attempts to explain how the victims’ families with the help of Para Social workers can be linked to much-needed services. The objective of this study was to examine the application of Para Social work training in physically and sexually abused girls in Temeke Municipal, Dar es Salaam region. The study was also set to explore possible measure used to reduce the risk of physically and sexually abuse among young girls in addition to Para Social work training in Temeke Municipal, Dar es Salaam region. A major framework of sociological theory was used. The symbolic interactionism was employed in this study to explore symbolic meanings that community members developed and used in the process of social interaction. The family members of abused girls would interpret the behaviour of the young girls and therefore form the social bond which later was used to inform the community members about the problem that they were facing. This theoretical perspective helped the Para Social worker to make sense of the life experiences of young girls’ and understand their coping strategies including the increasing capacity of Para Social workers to access resources for improving care for young girls and their families. Further the theory increased capacity to understand how Para Social workers could generate the Eight (8) Years Plan for Development which was used in protecting young girls against physical and sexual abuse within their community. The theory enlightens community volunteers and Para Social workers in planning for various interventions in violence against children in Tanzania. Further, the study confirmed that community volunteers and Para Social workers suggested on the use of National Plan of Action for their interventions especially in emerging issues that needed their attention especially in reducing the problem of violence against children in their communities. This perspective helped to capture the behaviour of young girls and how they symbolically navigate their lives. The meaning and significance of young girls and the effect of abuse enable us to capture the social reality of those who dealt with the abuse and the measurement to reduce the problem using their own perspectives. This study used qualitative approach which included in-depth Interview and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Also purposive sampling was used whereby 50 informants were selected as a sample size of this study. The informants came from Temeke district in Dar es Salaam region.The Findings revealed that, since the development of Para Social work trainings in 2006, most vulnerable children especially young girls have enabled Para Social workers to be fully equipped and be able to apply relevant social policies effectively. Such policies include Sexual Offences Provisional Act of 1988(SOSPA), Child Development Policy of 2008 and the Law of the Child Act number 21 of 2009. Furthermore the Para Social work training has facilitated the process of identifying young girls who is abused. Thereafter Para Social workers have helped the girls’ families to develop and implement a plan of support.The study recommends to Para Social workers that young girls need to be understood in terms of situation and be protected from hazardous condition including physical and sexual abuse within their communities. Further the study recommends that it is important to strengthen child protection systems so that all kinds of abuse are addressed and worked on clearly in their communities. As for policy makers and law makers’ young girls have to be in their agenda for change. Para Social workers participation in this training is important as there are no enough staffs at the ward and village levels who could work for social workers. The availability of Para Social workers will facilitate linkages to available resources which are important for young girls’ growth and development. The attitude and perceptions towards using Para Social workers to help community members including the parents and other family members of young girls need to be changed for the benefit of the community members they serve.

Gender differences in the quality of psychosocial stimulation in rural Bangladesh homes.

Little is known about whether and to what extent gender differences affect the stimulation children receive at home, which is crucial to child development. The aim of this study was to document the differences, if any, in the quality of psychosocial stimulation boys and girls receive at home in middle childhood in rural Bangladesh. This study was done as a part of a long-term follow-up study of a cluster randomized controlled trial in 2015. The Middle Childhood-Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (MC-HOME) was adapted and used to measure the quality of home stimulation. Post hoc analysis of the long-term follow-up study was done. Data were analysed using t-test and chi-squared test for continuous and dichotomous variables, respectively. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to control for confounders. A total of 372 child-mother dyads participated in the study. Socio-economic and anthropometric characteristics of the boys and girls did not differ except that more girls had electricity at home (p=.027). Girls were found significantly advantaged over boys in total MC-HOME scores (p=.014) at age around 8years. These findings will play a role for child development policy formulation in Bangladesh. However, though the difference is statistically significant, the strength of relationship is very weak and may not be of functional importance.

Community health education improves child health care in Rural Western China

BackgroundRural infant growth failure has been highlighted as a priority for action in China’s national nutrition and child development policies. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effect of community-based intervention project on child feeding, child health care and child growth.MethodsFrom 2001 to 2005, UNICEF and China’s Ministry of Health worked together to develop holistic strategies for child health care. All the interventions were implemented through the three-tier (county-township-village) rural health care network.In this study, 34 counties were included in both surveys in 2001 and 2005. Among these 34 counties, nine were subjected to the intervention and 25 counties were used as controls. In nine intervention counties, leaflets containing information of supplemental feeding of infants and young children were printed and distributed to women during hospital delivery or visit to newborn by village doctors. Two cross-sectional surveys were both conducted from July to early September in 2001 and 2005. We calculated Z-scores of height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ) and weight-for-height (WHZ), with the new WHO growth standard. HAZ < − 2 was defined as stunting, WAZ < − 2 was defined as underweight, and WHZ < − 2 was defined as wasting.ResultsFollowing the four-year study period, the parents in the intervention group showed significantly better infant and young child feeding practices and behaviors of child care than did their control group counterparts. In addition, all three anthropometric indicators in 2005 in the intervention group were better than in the control, with stunting 4.9% lower (p < 0.001), underweight 2.2% lower (p < 0.001), and wasting 1.0% lower (p < 0.05).ConclusionsWe concluded that the health care education intervention embed in government had the potential to be successfully promoted in rural western China.

A comparative analysis of early child health and development services and outcomes in countries with different redistributive policies

BackgroundThe social environment is a fundamental determinant of early child development and, in turn, early child development is a determinant of health, well-being, and learning skills across the life course. Redistributive policies aimed at reducing social inequalities, such as a welfare state and labour market policies, have shown a positive association with selected health indicators. In this study, we investigated the influence of redistributive policies specifically on the social environment of early child development in five countries with different political traditions. The objective of this analysis was to highlight similarities and differences in social and health services between the countries and their associations with other health outcomes that can inform better global early child development policies and improve early child health and development.MethodsFour social determinants of early child development were selected to provide a cross-section of key time periods in a child’s life from prenatal to kindergarten. They included: 1) prenatal care, 2) maternal leave, 3) child health care, and 4) child care and early childhood education. We searched international databases and reports (e.g. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, World Bank, and UNICEF) to obtain information about early child development policies, services and outcomes.ResultsAlthough a comparative analysis cannot claim causation, our analysis suggests that redistributive policies aimed at reducing social inequalities are associated with a positive influence on the social determinants of early child development. Generous redistributive policies are associated with a higher maternal leave allowance and pay and more preventive child healthcare visits. A decreasing trend in infant mortality, low birth weight rate, and under five mortality rate were observed with an increase in redistributive policies. No clear influence of redistributive policies was observed on breastfeeding and immunization rates. In the analysis of child care and early education, the lack of uniform measures of early child development outcomes was apparent.ConclusionsThis paper provides further support for an association between redistributive policies and early child health and development outcomes, along with the organization of early child health and development services.

Bilingual Myth-Busters Series Language Confusion in Bilingual Children

This article is the first in a series that will attempt to deconstruct myths about bilingualism. Language confusion is the popularly held belief (or myth) that children are incapable of becoming bi...

Economic Considerations for Analysis of Early Childhood Development Programmes

The first section of this paper presents analytical frameworks for considering the determinants of and the impact of human resources investments in childhood development. These are investments, because resources devoted to child development may have returns not only currently, but in the future. Emphasis is placed on the underlying behaviours that determine such investments by households, given their resources and the prices and programmes that they face. Important implications are that: (1) households have their own objectives and therefore may not make the decisions that policy makers anticipate; (2) households make such decisions together with many other decisions in light of all their resources and current and expected prices and programmes, so there may be important cross-programme effects; (3) for empirical analysis or casual observations, many of the determinants of childhood development investments and many of their impacts include not easily observed variables, so inferences that do not control for such variables may be wrong; and (4) the expected returns and costs may differ substantially, depending on a range of markets, programmes, and macro contexts. the second section considers estimation issues in ascertaining the determinants of and the impact of investments in childhood development: (1) random measurement error, which may bias towards zero the estimated effects of right-side variables; (2) omitted variable bias, which causes the estimated effects of observed variables to be misrepresented because these variables in part are representing the effects of the omitted variables; (3) simultaneity bias of a direction that depends on the model being considered if the right-side variables are determined simultaneously with the dependent variable; and (4) selectivity bias if data are available only on a selected sample. the third section presents a framework for policy choices related to childhood development. the two basic motives for policy interventions are discussed: (1) Efficiency to obtain the maximum output for given resources and technologies and (2) distribution of resources or products among members of society. Illustrations are given, with explicit reference to possible child development policies.