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Cited by 61Early Childhood Education and DevelopmentChild Nutrition and Water AccessChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

The role of early childhood education programmes in the promotion of child and adolescent mental health in low-and middle-income countries

Baker-Henningham, Helen·2014·International Journal of Epidemiology
DOI 10.1093/ije/dyt226
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence that early childhood education (ECE) interventions can reduce the loss of developmental potential of disadvantaged children in low- and middle-income countries (LAMIC). Less attention has been paid to the potential of these programmes to prevent child mental health problems and promote child well-being. METHODS: Peer-reviewed journal articles describing controlled evaluations of ECE interventions in LAMIC were reviewed to identify studies with child mental health outcomes. Studies with proximal outcomes for child mental health including caregiver practices and caregiver mental health were also reviewed. RESULTS: Of 63 studies identified, 21 (33.33%) included child mental health outcomes; 12 of 16 studies with short-term measures showed benefits; 6 studies included a longer-term follow-up and all found benefits; 25 studies included caregiver outcomes: consistent benefits were found for caregiver practices (21 studies) and 6 of 9 studies that measured caregiver mental health reported benefits. Gains to child mental health may be most likely when ECE interventions include three main elements: (i) activities to increase child skills including cognition, language, self-regulation and social-emotional competence; (ii) training caregivers in the skills required to provide a cognitively stimulating and emotionally supportive environment; and (iii) attention to the caregivers' mental health, motivation and self-efficacy. Recommendations for the design and implementation of programmes are provided. CONCLUSION: ECE interventions are an important component of mental health prevention and promotion in LAMIC, and promoting child and caregiver well-being is a fundamental aspect of interventions to improve child development.

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  • Early childhood development interventions including stimulation in early childhood, preschool level interventions, and ECD consultations have shown to be effective in improving health behaviors, conduct problems, and social skills.

    “Evidence suggests that early childhood development (ECD) interventions including stimulation in early childhood, preschool level interventions, and ECD consultations have shown to be effective in improving health behaviors, conduct problems, and social skills and are also low-cost interventions delivered in home and at school [63], [64], [65], [66], [67].”

    From Interventions for Adolescent Mental Health: An Overview of Systematic Reviews (2016) · cites this paper as [63]

  • Early childhood development interventions are low-cost interventions delivered in home and at school.

    “Evidence suggests that early childhood development (ECD) interventions including stimulation in early childhood, preschool level interventions, and ECD consultations have shown to be effective in improving health behaviors, conduct problems, and social skills and are also low-cost interventions delivered in home and at school [63], [64], [65], [66], [67].”

    From Interventions for Adolescent Mental Health: An Overview of Systematic Reviews (2016) · cites this paper as [63]

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Authors
Baker-Henningham, H.
Venue
International Journal of Epidemiology
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2013-12-22
Volume
43
Issue
2
Pages
407-433
ISSN
  • 0300-5771 (ISSN-L)
  • 1464-3685
DOI
10.1093/ije/dyt226
OpenAlex
W2132047889
Cited by
61
References
118
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4
FWCI
27.43
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • International Journal of Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Education › Early Childhood Education and Development
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Child Nutrition and Water Access
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
early childhood education, child mental health, adolescent mental health, mental health promotion, mental health prevention, low- and middle-income countries, caregiving practices, caregiver mental health, child development, socioemotional skills, self-regulation, program design
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Mental Disorders, Child, Child, Preschool, Developing Countries, Education, Nonprofessional, Female, Health Promotion, Health Status, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Parents, Program Evaluation, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Parenting, Caregivers, Early Intervention, Educational

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