Research priority setting for integrated early child development and violence prevention (ECD+) in low and middle income countries: An expert opinion exercise

TY - JOUR

T1 - Research priority setting for integrated early child development and violence prevention (ECD+) in low and middle income countries

T2 - An expert opinion exercise

AU - Tomlinson, Mark

AU - Jordans, Mark

AU - MacMillan, Harriet

AU - Betancourt, Theresa

AU - Hunt, Xanthe

AU - Mikton, Christopher

PY - 2017/10

Y1 - 2017/10

N2 - Child development in low and middle income countries (LMIC) is compromised by multiple risk factors. Reducing children’s exposure to harmful events is essential for early childhood development (ECD). In particular, preventing violence against children – a highly prevalent risk factor that negatively affects optimal child development – should be an intervention priority. We used the Child Health and Nutrition Initiative (CHNRI) method for the setting of research priorities in integrated Early Childhood Development and violence prevention programs (ECD+). An expert group was identified and invited to systematically list and score research questions. A total of 186 stakeholders were asked to contribute five research questions each, and contributions were received from 81 respondents. These were subsequently evaluated using a set of five criteria: answerability; effectiveness; feasibility and/or affordability; applicability and impact; and equity. Of the 400 questions generated, a composite group of 50 were scored by 55 respondents. The highest scoring research questions related to the training of Community Health Workers (CHW’s) to deliver ECD+ interventions effectively and whether ECD+ interventions could be integrated within existing delivery platforms such as HIV, nutrition or mental health platforms. The priority research questions can direct new research initiatives, mainly in focusing on the effectiveness of an ECD+ approach, as well as on service delivery questions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic exercise of its kind in the field of ECD+. The findings from this research priority setting exercise can help guide donors and other development actors towards funding priorities for important future research related to ECD and violence prevention.

AB - Child development in low and middle income countries (LMIC) is compromised by multiple risk factors. Reducing children’s exposure to harmful events is essential for early childhood development (ECD). In particular, preventing violence against children – a highly prevalent risk factor that negatively affects optimal child development – should be an intervention priority. We used the Child Health and Nutrition Initiative (CHNRI) method for the setting of research priorities in integrated Early Childhood Development and violence prevention programs (ECD+). An expert group was identified and invited to systematically list and score research questions. A total of 186 stakeholders were asked to contribute five research questions each, and contributions were received from 81 respondents. These were subsequently evaluated using a set of five criteria: answerability; effectiveness; feasibility and/or affordability; applicability and impact; and equity. Of the 400 questions generated, a composite group of 50 were scored by 55 respondents. The highest scoring research questions related to the training of Community Health Workers (CHW’s) to deliver ECD+ interventions effectively and whether ECD+ interventions could be integrated within existing delivery platforms such as HIV, nutrition or mental health platforms. The priority research questions can direct new research initiatives, mainly in focusing on the effectiveness of an ECD+ approach, as well as on service delivery questions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic exercise of its kind in the field of ECD+. The findings from this research priority setting exercise can help guide donors and other development actors towards funding priorities for important future research related to ECD and violence prevention.

KW - Early child development

KW - Priority setting

KW - Violence prevention

KW - Integrated early childhood development

KW - ECD+

U2 - 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.07.021

DO - 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.07.021

M3 - Article

SN - 0145-2134

VL - 72

SP - 131

EP - 139

JO - Child Abuse and Neglect

JF - Child Abuse and Neglect

ER -