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Indian Academy of Pediatrics Position Paper on Nurturing Care for Early Childhood Development.

Authors :
Mukherjee, Sharmila Banerjee
Agrawal, Deepti
Mishra, Devendra
Shastri, Digant
Dalwai, Samir Hasan
Chattopadhyay, Nandita
Unni, Jeeson
Bharadva, Ketan
Thadhani, Anjana
Lewin, Maria
Nagaraj, Akhila
Ramji, Siddarth
Mehta, Rajesh
Singh, Vivek V.
de Wagt, Arjan
Aquino, Luigi D'
Pejaver, Ranjan Kumar
Gandhi, Alpesh
Tank, Jaydeep
Thangavelu, S.
Source :
Indian Pediatrics; Oct2021, Vol. 58 Issue 10, p962-969, 8p
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

Early childhood development (ECD) refers to the physical, motor, socio-emotional, cognitive, and linguistic development of a young child. The 'Countdown to 2030' global distribution of 'children at risk of poor development' indicates the need for urgent action and investment in ECD. Nurturing care enhances ECD, even in the presence of adversities. Strategic actions should exist at multiple levels: the family, community, health care providers and government. Previously, child health related policies and programs of the Government of India functioned in isolation, but have recently started demonstrating multi-sectoral collaboration. Nonetheless, the status of ECD in India is far from optimal. There is strong evidence that parenting programs improve outcomes related to ECD. This is dependent on key programmatic areas (timing, duration, frequency, intensity, modality, content, etc.), in addition to political will, funding, partnership, and plans for scaling up. Each country must implement its unique ECD program that is need-based and customized to their stakeholder community. Barriers like inadequate sensitization of the community and low competency of health care providers need to be overcome. IAP firmly believes that responsive parenting interventions revolving around nurturing care should be incorporated in office practice. This paper outlines IAP's position on ECD, and its recommendations for pediatricians and policy makers. It also presents the roadmap in partnership with other stakeholders in maternal, neonatal, and child health; Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), National Neonatology Forum (NNF), World Health Organization (WHO), and United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00196061
Volume :
58
Issue :
10
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Indian Pediatrics
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
153240024
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-021-2332-1