Nandita Chattopadhyay

Background: Enabling young children to achieve their full developmental potential is a requisite for sustainable development, but globally 43% of children are still at risk to do so. The problem is grave among the under-privileged rural population in India. Objectives: 1. Identify the factors influencing Early Childhood Development (ECD) unique to our rural community. 2. Devise an appropriate and sustainable program to overcome the adversities. Method: Cross-sectional observational study through random sample survey of 609 households with children 0-6 years conducted in a rural district of West Bengal, India, using a MICS III based questionnaire, focusing on the key threats to ECD. The data was analyzed to identify the major threats prevalent in the study area. Subsequent intervention program is targeted at 500+ mothers through trained Field Level workers, through intensive and sustained awareness generation programs in a participatory mode. Results: Lack of stimulatory home environment, poor learning opportunities and inadequate responsive parental care were major hindrances. Cumulative effect of multiple other health and hygiene factors was also hindering ECD. Most factors are strongly influenced by poor maternal education and awareness. Poor utilization of resources was a greater problem than non-availability. The on-going participatory intervention program are showing remarkable change in knowledge, skill and attitude of parents. Conclusion: Promotion of maternal education and empowerment of primary care-givers at grass-root level will help overcome many of the adverse factors. Awareness generation among parents by duly trained field level workers through regular, sustained home based group activities is showing promise. 

Keywords: early childhood development, nurturing care, early stimulation