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In 2011, the US state of Mississippi mandated its school districts to adopt a sexuality education curriculum. Approximately half of districts chose a more comprehensive abstinence-plus curriculum over an abstinence-only curriculum. To understand this outcome, we conducted a logistic regression analysis of school district curriculum choice among Mississippi's school districts using data from 2012 when districts made the initial curricular decision, and from 2019, to assess continuity of findings. At both time points, poorer districts were more likely to adopt abstinence-plus curricula, despite the associated costs. Urban districts were also significantly more likely to choose abstinence-plus curricula, as were districts connected to Mississippi First, a local non-profit organisation that linked school districts to federal funding for abstinence-plus curricula. Despite the connection between political and sexual liberalism, political liberalism had limited predictive power over district sexuality education curriculum choice. Furthermore, one-third of the districts that adopted abstinence-only curricula were very similar to those that adopted abstinence-plus curricula in terms of poverty, religious adherents, rural location, political liberalism, gonorrhoea burden and racial composition. These findings indicate the importance of state mandates for sexuality education, federal funding for evidence-based curricula, and the presence of supportive local organisations to advance the adoption of more comprehensive sexuality education.

Objective To determine the reasons for the lack of priority given to addressing violence against children, and to identify the challenges that proponents must address to improve prioritization of this issue. Methods We reviewed relevant literature to identify experts to interview. We carried out a thematic analysis of the literature and interview transcripts. We iteratively developed data coding on the many characteristics of violence against children, on the framing of the issue by proponents, and on the problem of governance--that is, how proponents organize themselves for collective action. Findings The analysis of our data sources reveals many obstacles for global prioritization of addressing violence against children, including the forms of violence considered, inadequate data to describe prevalence and a lack of evidence of the effectiveness of proposed solutions. There exists fundamental disagreement among proponents on the recently introduced frame of violence against children, including differences in the types of violence that should be prioritized and in the proposed solutions (e.g. prevention or remediation). On governance, competition between networks focused on specific forms of violence is hampering efforts to create strong governing institutions. Conclusion Despite the complex challenges identified, proponents have made some progress in global prioritization of addressing violence against children. To improve this prioritization further, proponents must resolve framing tensions and strengthen governance mechanisms to promote shared goals, while ensuring that networks focused on particular forms of violence are able to maintain their distinct identities. La lutte contre la violence envers les enfants, une priorite mondiale Objectif Definir les raisons expliquant pourquoi la violence envers les enfants n'est pas une priorite, et identifier les defis que les acteurs de cette lutte doivent relever pour ameliorer sa visibilite. Methodes Nous avons effectue une revue documentaire afin de trouver des experts a interroger. Nous avons egalement realise une analyse thematique de la litterature et des transcriptions d'entretiens. Nous avons developpe sous forme iterative un codage des donnees reprenant les nombreuses caracteristiques de la violence envers les enfants, la formulation des enjeux par les acteurs de la lutte, et le probleme de la gouvernance. En d'autres termes, comment ces acteurs s'organisent pour mener des actions collectives. Resultats L'analyse de nos sources de donnees revele de multiples obstacles dans la gestion mondiale des priorites inherentes a la lutte contre la violence envers les enfants, parmi lesquels les types de violences pris en compte, l'inadequation des donnees decrivant leur prevalence, et le manque de preuves d'efficacite des solutions proposees. Il existe des desaccords profonds parmi les acteurs de la lutte sur le cadre recemment instaure pour definir la violence envers les enfants, notamment des divergences au niveau des types de violences considerees comme prioritaires et des solutions proposees (par exemple la prevention ou la reparation). Quant a la gouvernance, la concurrence que se livrent les reseaux dedies a des violences specifiques nuit aux efforts de creation d'institutions gouvernementales solides. Conclusion Malgre la complexite des defis identifies, les acteurs de la lutte contre la violence envers les enfants ont accompli quelques progres dans l'etablissement des priorites en la matiere. Pour poursuivre sur cette lancee, ils doivent resoudre les tensions que suscite le cadre de reference et renforcer les mecanismes de gouvernance afin de promouvoir des objectifs communs, tout en veillant a ce que les reseaux dedies a des violences specifiques puissent conserver leur identite propre. Una prioridad mundial: abordar la violencia contra los ninos Objetivo Determinar las razones por las que no se da prioridad al tratamiento de la violencia contra los ninos, e identificar los retos que los defensores deben abordar para mejorar la priorizacion de esta cuestion. Metodos Revisamos la bibliografia pertinente para identificar a los expertos a los que entrevistar. Realizamos un analisis tematico de la bibliografia y de las transcripciones de las entrevistas. Desarrollamos de forma iterativa la codificacion de los datos sobre las multiples caracteristicas de la violencia contra los ninos, sobre la estructuracion de la cuestion por parte de los defensores y sobre el problema de la gobernanza, es decir, como se organizan los defensores para la accion colectiva. Resultados El analisis de nuestras fuentes de datos revela muchos obstaculos para la priorizacion global del tratamiento de la violencia contra los ninos, incluyendo las formas de violencia consideradas, datos inadecuados para describir la prevalencia y la falta de pruebas de la eficacia de las soluciones propuestas. Existe un desacuerdo fundamental entre los defensores sobre el marco recientemente introducido de la violencia contra los ninos, incluidas las diferencias en los tipos de violencia que deben priorizarse y las soluciones propuestas (por ejemplo, prevencion o remedio). En cuanto a la gobernanza, la competencia entre redes centradas en formas especificas de violencia esta obstaculizando los esfuerzos por crear instituciones de gobierno fuertes. Conclusion A pesar de los complejos desafios identificados, los defensores han realizado algunos progresos en la priorizacion global del tratamiento de la violencia contra los ninos. Para mejorar aun mas esta priorizacion, los defensores deben resolver las tensiones de encuadramiento y fortalecer los mecanismos de gobernanza para promover los objetivos compartidos, asegurando al mismo tiempo que las redes centradas en formas particulares de violencia puedan mantener sus identidades distintivas., Introduction Every year, approximately three quarters of the world's children (those aged 0-19 years) experience some form of violence; (1) this proportion may have grown even larger as a result [...]

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.

Self-reliance has been advanced by policy actors as an aspirational objective by and for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with evolution in framing over time. Most recently, it has been advanced by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in an organisational strategy titled the Journey to Self-Reliance (J2SR). This paper identifies why self-reliance has evolved over time, how actors have supported its use, and implications for development practice. We identify self-reliance frames using peer-reviewed and grey literature and key informant interviews. Thematic analysis using framing theories was conducted. Self-reliance originates from a historical legacy of postcolonial scholarship, but it has been transformed from an emancipatory paradigm to a strategy championed by international donors. Three frames were identified: (1) the emancipatory frame, led by LMIC actors; (2) the reformist frame, led by donor agencies; and (3) the J2SR frame, led by USAID. We argue that while the J2SR frame is the most visible in today's discourse, the emancipatory frame continues to influence policy and rhetoric. This phenomenon reflects the importance of strategic ambiguity and the ability of the frame sponsor to exert power through ideas. It also represents the limits of donor agencies in instrumentalising frames to meet their institutional interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]