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3-198 - CANCELLED - Developing a center of excellence in child development research led from the Global South

Sat, March 23, 2:30 to 4:00pm, Hilton Baltimore, Floor: Level 2, Key 9

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

The growing prominence of early childhood development as an international health and development issue has been underscored by its inclusion in the Sustainable Development Goals as well as the World Health Organization document ‘Nurturing care for early childhood development: Linking survive and thrive to transform health and human potential’. This global paradigm shift is particularly significant for children in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) characterized by high levels of poverty and adversity. Extreme poverty disproportionately affects children, is a primary driver of poor health and development outcomes, and inhibits the ability of children to meet their developmental potential. Exposure to poor caregiver mental health, poor nutrition, poor household living conditions, environmental toxins, and lack of access to clean water and sanitation endangers child wellbeing, while access to services, such as early learning centers, is often unaffordable. However, while continued exposure to multiple risk factors in these contexts negatively affects children’s psychosocial, cognitive and physical development, there is limited research from LMIC settings about the impact of these risks, how they interact and accumulate, and how interventions can mitigate their effects.

To address this issue, we have established a research institute with the aim of developing a center of excellence in child and adolescent health and development research, led from the Global South. In this session, we will discuss the broader context of our work, and provide results from four studies that we have conducted in South Africa, Lesotho and Kenya.

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