Poster #123 - A Multisectoral Approach to Early Childhood Development: Gaps and Challenges in Frontier Counties, Kenya

• In Event: Poster Session 06

Abstract

Early years for children are critical since they constitute a period of fast growth and development. As a result, they need nurturing care through integrated services to enhance their holistic development. Working in collaboration with many sectors ensures a comprehensive cross-sectoral and more sustainable approach (Kibera, 2013). Multi-sectoral implementation of nurturing care framework for Early Childhood Development (ECD) ensures that every child gets the best start in life and develops optimally. During early years, children are sensitive to interventions that ameliorate against the adverse effects of exposure to risk factors such as chronic poverty, malnutrition, and non-responsive caregiving (Naudeau, 2011). Research indicates that in low- and middle-income countries 43% of children less than five years of age are at risk of poverty, poor health, poor nutrition and other adversities. It is also estimated that 250 million children under 5 years emanating from low- and middle-income countries are at a high risk of not attaining their full developmental potential. Over 66% live in the sub-Saharan Africa due to inadequate nutrition, poverty, under stimulation in home environment (Black, 2017). This paper presents findings of a situational analysis of ECD services and programmes that was undertaken in the frontier counties in Kenya. Interview guides were used to collect data. Purposive and snowballing sampling techniques were used to select 104 respondents consisting of 58 males and 46 females in the ECD sector. They included ECD teachers, parents, health care workers, religious leaders and county ECD coordinators. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were then coded in NVivo program after which, thematic analysis was done in line with the key objectives. Preliminary analysis indicates that some of the challenges and gaps in ECD services in the counties include lack of quality nutrition, poor physical facilities, inadequate access to healthcare, insecurity, lack of proper terms of service for ECD teachers and lack of early learning opportunities. Another major gap that was identified was lack of multi-sectoral coordination in ECD services provision in the region. To address the gaps and challenges participants were asked to recommend possible areas of interventions which included the need for a multi-sectoral implementation of the nurturing care framework for early childhood development.

Authors

• Phillis Moraa Magoma, Aga Khan University - Kenya
  Presenting Author

• esther chongwo

• Joyce Marangu, Aga Khan University - Kenya

• Margaret Kabue

• Amina Abubakar, Aga Khan University - Kenya

• anil khamis

• paul otwate

• eunice njoroge