Maternal, paternal, and other caregivers’ stimulation in low- and- middle-income countries

Abstract

Background and objectives Globally, studies have shown associations between maternal stimulation and early child development. Yet, little is known about the prevalence of paternal and other caregivers' stimulation practices, particularly in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods Data from the Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS) and the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) were combined across 62 LMICs (2010-2018). The sample included 205,150 mothers of children aged 3 and 4 years. High levels of stimulation were defined as caregiver engagement in at least 4 out of 6 possible activities with the child. The proportion of mothers, fathers, and other caregivers providing high levels of stimulation was calculated by country, region, and for the whole sample. Socioeconomic disparities within and between countries were estimated. Results On average, 39.8% (95% CI 37.4 to 42.2) of mothers, 11.9% (95% CI 10.1 to 13.8) of fathers, and 20.7% (95% CI 18.4 to 23.0) of other adult caregivers provided high levels of stimulation. Stimulation varied by region, country income group, and Human Development Index (HDI), with higher levels of maternal and paternal-but not other caregivers'-stimulation in high-income and high-HDI countries. Within countries, stimulation levels were, on average, lower in the poorest relative to the richest households, and some but not all countries exhibited differences by child sex (i.e., boys vs. girls) or area (i.e., urban vs. rural).

The Role of the Family Network When Raising a Child with a Disability in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

“…To quantify the amount of caregiving that each child received, the "Caregiving" module from the questionnaire "Children Under 5" was used. The caregiving module in MICS3 has been used previously to investigate parental caregiving behavior [38,[52][53][54].…”

“…Although the Caregiving Module of the MICS has been broadly used in the literature to investigate caregiving practices in LMIC [38,[52][53][54], it mainly focuses on cognitive and socio-emotional activities. Other caregiving aspects or activities were not considered in this study.…”

Traditional Societal Practices Can Avert Poor Dietary Habits and Reduce Obesity Risk in Preschool Children of Mothers with Low Socioeconomic Status and Unemployment

“…While both parents play an important role in the formation of healthy eating behaviours of their children, in most families, particularly those of a more traditional cultural background such as Turkey, mothers usually spend more time on food preparation and other activities related to family nutrition such as grocery shopping and meal planning [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. The role of mothers regarding childcare is highly emphasized in most traditional cultures like the one seen in Turkey.…”

“…Furthermore, the adoption of certain beliefs around food, food purchases and preparation also contribute to eating behaviors. Independent of the factor “culture” (i.e., customs involving food/meal/diet related practices), in low- and middle-income countries, mothers are usually more involved in children nutrition, especially in the early years [ 11 ].…”

Exploration of Attendance, Active Participation, and Behavior Change in a Group-Based Responsive Stimulation, Maternal and Child Health, and Nutrition Intervention

“…3 Many of these children grow up in environments heavily contaminated with fecal pathogens, exposed to environmental lead, 4 , 5 and experience limited parent–child interaction and stimulation activities, which may result in poor cognitive development and impairment in intellectual function. 6 …”