At?f Rahman|Zafar Iqbal|Chris Roberts|Nusrat Husain
Cluster randomized trial of a parent?based intervention to support early development of children in a low?income country
University of Liverpool|Human Development Research Foundation|University of Manchester|University of Manchester
abstract background programmes promote early psychological development children developed world found beneficial however programmes rare underprivileged parts developing world adapted one parentbased programme learning play rural pakistani population aimed study 1 acceptable community health workers 2 programme led improvement period 6 months mothers knowledge attitudes early infant development 3 led reduction levels maternal mental distress postnatal period methods using cluster randomized design villages unit randomization 163 mothers 24 villages rural subdistrict rawalpindi pakistan received learning play programme whereas 146 mothers 24 villages acted controls twentyfour community health workers trained carry programme assessments conducted using specially developed 15item infant development questionnaire 20item selfreporting questionnaire srq results 80 community health workers trained found programme relevant able integrate routine work significant increase mothers knowledge positive attitudes infant development intervention group compared control group women intervention group answered correctly 43 95 ci 37149 p lt 0001 questions control group difference levels mental distress measured srq conclusions learning play programme successfully integrated existing health system accepted community health workers programme succeeded improving knowledge attitudes mothers infant development