Chunling Lu|Jorge Cuartas|Günther Fink|Dana Charles McCoy|Kai Liu|Zhihui Li|Bernadette Daelmans|Linda Richter
Inequalities in early childhood care and development in low/middle-income countries: 2010–2018
Brigham and Women's Hospital|Harvard University|Harvard University|Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute|University of Basel|Harvard University|Renmin University of China|Harvard Global Health Institute|Harvard University|World Health Organization|University of the Witwatersrand
background inequalities early childhood development ecd tend persist adulthood amplify across life course date little research inequalities early childhood care development lowmiddleincome countries available guide governments donors civil society identifying young children families targeted policies programmes improve nurturing care could prevent left behind methods using data 135 demographic health surveys multiple indicator cluster surveys 2010 2018 assessed levels trends inequalities exposure risks stunting extreme poverty age 5 levels 85 trends 40 countries early attendance early care education programmes 3659 months 65 17 countries home stimulation 3659 months 62 14 countries child development according early childhood development index 3659 months 60 13 countries inequalities within countries measured absolute gap three domainschild gender household wealth residential areaand compared across regions country income groups results 63 children exposed stunting extreme poverty 39 34year olds attended early care education 69 received level reported home stimulation defined adequate subsaharan africa lowest proportion children exposed stunting extreme poverty 45 attending early care education 24 receiving adequate home stimulation 47 substantial gaps indicators found across country income groups residential areas household wealth categories significant reductions gaps time subset countries available data two survey rounds conclusions available data indicate large inequalities early experiences outcomes efforts reducing inequalities must focus poorest families living rural areas poorest countries improving applying populationlevel measurements ecd countries time important ensuring equal opportunities young children globally