Care for Child Development in rural Malawi – a model feasibility and pilot study

Gladstone, MJ
Phuka, John
Thindwa, Richard
Fatima, Chitimbe
Chidzalo, Kate
Gledowe-Ware, Selena
Maleta, Ken

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Publication date

May 2018

DOI

10.1111/nyas.13725

Publisher

Wiley

ISSN

0077-8923

Abstract

Evidence demonstrates that encouraging stimulation, early communication, and nutrition improves child development. Detailed feasibility studies in real‐world situations in Africa are limited. We piloted Care for Child Development through six health surveillance assistants (HSAs) in group and individual sessions with 60 caregivers and children <2 years and assessed recruitment, frequency, timings, and quality of intervention. We collected baseline/endline anthropometric, child development (MDAT), maternal stress (SRQ), and family care indicators (FCIs) data and determined acceptability through 20 interviews with caregivers and HSAs. HSAs could only provide coverage on 14.2% of eligible children in their areas; 86% of group sessions and a mea...