Parents/caregivers practice on responsive care giving and early learning opportunity in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Over 200 million (43%) children under 5 years in low-and middle-income countries are unable to reach their full developmental potential because of poor health, inadequate nutrition, lack of early stimulation, and limited opportunities for early learning. Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest prevalence (66% in 2010) of children at risk of not reaching full developmental potential. In Ethiopia this problem is estimated to exist in 60 percent of under five children but community based information is limited. Objective: The objective is to assess parents’/caregivers’ level of practice and associated factors on responsive care giving and early learning opportunity for children 6 months to 36 months. Methods: Community based quantitative cross-sectional study was done in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of 427 parents of children aged 6 months up to 36 months were included in the study and data was collected by using a standardized questionnaire; Home observation for measurement of Environment infant toddler version (HOME-IT). Logistic regression model analysis was done to identify factors significantly associated with HOME score. Results: Most caregivers (93%) did not receive counseling on ways to stimulate brain development. Only 14.1% of the children were enrolled in daycare or preschool. The HOME Score results showed that 79.9% of the participants had a poor practice for both responsive care giving & early opportunity for learning, while only 20.1% had a good practice. Mothers with higher education, & parents of day care enrolled children were more likely to have better practice. Conclusions: Our study provides evidence that the practice of responsive caregiving and early learning opportunities for children aged 6 months to 36 months among parents or caregivers in Addis Ababa is poor. Immediate attention needs to be given in the city to implementing tailored interventions that promote optimal early childhood development..........Thesis available at Addis Continental Institute of Public Health Library