Comparative use of the Ages and Stages Questionnaires in low- and middle-income countries.

AIM: To map the breadth of use of the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) across world regions, and examine procedures for ASQ translation, adaptation, psychometric evaluation, and administration. METHOD: We conducted a review of all original, peer-reviewed studies written in English referencing use of the ASQ in LMICs. We used a consensus rating procedure to classify each article into one of four categories: feasibility study, psychometric study, prevalence study, or research study. RESULTS: We analysed 53 peer-reviewed articles written in English detailing use of the ASQ in LMICs. We found evidence of ASQ use in 23 LMICs distributed across all world regions. The ASQ was translated into 16 languages. Just over half of the studies reported parent completion of the ASQ (50.9%). We identified eight feasibility studies, 12 psychometric studies, and nine prevalence studies. Study type varied by economy and region. INTERPRETATION: Findings suggest broad global use of the ASQ in a range of countries and cultural and linguistic contexts. There is need for further validation studies across all cited regions and countries and in countries ready to begin to design systems for providing universal developmental screening services. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: The Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) has been used in at least 23 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The ASQ has been translated into at least 16 languages in LMICs. Over half the identified studies reported parent completion of the ASQ.

Early childhood development coming of age: science through the life course.

Early childhood development programmes vary in coordination and quality, with inadequate and inequitable access, especially for children younger than 3 years. New estimates, based on proxy measures of stunting and poverty, indicate that 250 million children (43%) younger than 5 years in low-income and middle-income countries are at risk of not reaching their developmental potential. There is therefore an urgent need to increase multisectoral coverage of quality programming that incorporates health, nutrition, security and safety, responsive caregiving, and early learning. Equitable early childhood policies and programmes are crucial for meeting Sustainable Development Goals, and for children to develop the intellectual skills, creativity, and wellbeing required to become healthy and productive adults. In this paper, the first in a three part Series on early childhood development, we examine recent scientific progress and global commitments to early childhood development. Research, programmes, and policies have advanced substantially since 2000, with new neuroscientific evidence linking early adversity and nurturing care with brain development and function throughout the life course.

Early childhood policy planning and implementation: Community and provincial participation.

Literature regarding the field of early childhood policy planning and implementation has focused mainly on activities at global, regional, and national levels. However, during the last decade, important roles have emerged in policy planning for community-municipal and provincial decision makers, specialists, parents, and children. To achieve strong policy ownership at provincial and community levels, their representatives must participate actively in assessing the policy environment; child and family needs; human, organizational, and financial resources; and gaps and quality improvement in local services. Communities and provinces can help ensure early childhood services will address the needs of children in difficult situations and those with developmental delays, disabilities, and behavioral and mental health needs, leading ultimately to greater program equity. Studies have shown that when participatory policy-planning processes include community and provincial stakeholders alongside national decision makers, policy instruments have a greater likelihood of being implemented effectively. Furthermore, participatory processes often lead to the expansion and improvement of early childhood programs and the development of new initiatives to meet evolving needs. The establishment of multisectoral early childhood committees at the community level helps support the successful implementation of early childhood policies. Recommendations are offered regarding further research and activities for the improvement of community and provincial participation in early childhood policy planning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Early childhood development: an imperative for action and measurement at scale.

Experiences during early childhood shape biological and psychological structures and functions in ways that affect health, well-being and productivity throughout the life course. The science of early childhood and its long-term consequences have generated political momentum to improve early childhood development and elevated action to country, regional and global levels. These advances have made it urgent that a framework, measurement tools and indicators to monitor progress globally and in countries are developed and sustained. We review progress in three areas of measurement contributing to these goals: the development of an index to allow country comparisons of young children's development that can easily be incorporated into ongoing national surveys; improvements in population-level assessments of young children at risk of poor early development; and the production of country profiles of determinants, drivers and coverage for early childhood development and services using currently available data in 91 countries. While advances in these three areas are encouraging, more investment is needed to standardise measurement tools, regularly collect country data at the population level, and improve country capacity to collect, interpret and use data relevant to monitoring progress in early childhood development.