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Early childhood is deeply influential in a child’s life trajectory. Children need nurturing care to enable them to develop to their full potential. Evidence demonstrates the critical role of parents and the importance of play in holistic child development making playful parenting an important component in children’s early years development. When development is delayed, or at risk, interventions, including those that incorporate play and communication between the primary caregiver and the child are critical. But how well are caregivers equipped to better identify risks and support their…
The period of early development from conception until children reach age eight (8) are the most important in terms of unlocking full potentials – and as such – for securing sustainable development. It is for this reason that access to comprehensive, quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes and services is recognised as both a fundamental right in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The CRC is the overarching normative and legal framework for ECD and the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world. In Africa, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare…
Abstract
International studies have suggested that parental loss is a risk factor for poor physical and mental health, but all orphans do not develop the same kind and intensity of wellbeing indicators. This disparity is associated with certain biopsychosocial characteristics of the developing orphan which may interact with certain environmental factors to determine the levels of vulnerability a child may experience following parental death. While studies have been devoted to orphanhood in Ghana, no study has examined the nature of multisystemic risks within the sociocultural environment,…
Abstract
In recent years there has been a significant escalation in the number of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in South Africa, mainly due to the scourge of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). The author argues that early childhood education interventions for OVC should be a priority of government since quality education and care programs in the early years can enhance the possibility of breaking the cycle of inequity in the lives of OVC and positively contribute to the economy of the country. Based on the educational, psychological and…
Abstract: Over 66 per cent of children in sub-Saharan Africa remain affected by poor developmental outcomes, exacerbating early inequalities. UNICEF and WHO evolved the Care for Child Development package (CCD) as a community-based initiative to support caregivers to develop stronger relationships with young children and support nurturing care. The Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI) is a global WHO strategy to promote optimal maternal, infant and young child nutrition at the community level. This paper provides insights into the feasibility and lessons learned from rural Kenya in…
In November 2018 the Kays Foundation carried out a month of qualitative research into parenting attitudes and practices in coastal Kenya. Through a combination of ethnography, quantitative data collection and documentary film-making, they set out to cast new light on the First 1,000 Days, understanding this life-stage from the vantage point of families and communities.
Their fieldwork was split between rural Kilifi (Ganze) and an informal settlement in urban Mombasa (Kibarani). These locations helped the researchers to explore a range of contrasting needs and the…
The first years of a child’s life are crucial for their cognitive, emotional, social, behavioural, and physical development. Given the importance of early childhood development (ECD), the Zambian government has committed to scaling up ECD programmes that support health, nutrition, and early learning/stimulation for children. Progress from these programmes have been mixed: between 2007 and 2014 the infant mortality rate dropped from 70 per 1,000 live births to 45, while the broader under-5 mortality rate fell from 119 per 1,000 live births to 75 (CSO, 2014).
This project, designed to…
Introduction
1. In September 2016, Kenya’s Government launched its national implementation plan for the Sustainable Development Goals, and expressed commitment that ‘no one will be left behind’ in the economic and social prosperity of the country. This report, produced by UNICEF as part of its country programme, is intended to support the Government to meet this commitment.
2. The report presents an overview of the Situation of Children and Women in Kenya using the results of the most significant research and analysis between 2014 and 2017 in areas related to the…
Abstract
ChildFund International (ChildFund) is a child‐focused International Non‐Governmental Organization (INGO) which, since 1938, has worked with local implementing partners (LIPs), government, and other partner organizations to help create the safe environments children need to thrive. The purpose of this commentary is to reflect on the utility and possible application of the suggestions and study designs in this special issue to real‐life intervention studies in dynamic context settings. The commentary provides three regional case examples with evaluation study lessons learned from…
Abstract
Worldwide, up to 8 million children reside in institutional care. While some characteristics are common to most institutional settings (e.g., group rearing, non-related caregivers), the social environments of institutions are highly variable. Institutions in Russia, China, Ghana, and Chile are described with reference to the circumstances that lead to children’s institutionalization, resident children’s social-emotional relationships, and unique characteristics of each country’s institutional care (e.g., volunteer tourism in Ghana, and shifting demographics of institutionalized…