Reorienting Nurturing Care for Early Childhood Development during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kenya: A Review

Constance Shumba, Rose Maina, Gladys Mbuthia, Rachel Kimani, Stella Mbugua, Sweta Shah, Amina Abubakar, Stanley Luchters, Sheila Shaibu and Eunice Ndirangu
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Constance Shumba: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aga Khan University, Nairobi 00623, Kenya
Rose Maina: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aga Khan University, Nairobi 00623, Kenya
Gladys Mbuthia: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aga Khan University, Nairobi 00623, Kenya
Rachel Kimani: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aga Khan University, Nairobi 00623, Kenya
Stella Mbugua: Africa Early Childhood Network, Nairobi 00502, Kenya
Sweta Shah: Global Programs Team, Aga Khan Foundation, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Amina Abubakar: Institute for Human Development, Aga Khan University, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
Stanley Luchters: Department of Population Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
Sheila Shaibu: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aga Khan University, Nairobi 00623, Kenya
Eunice Ndirangu: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aga Khan University, Nairobi 00623, Kenya

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-19

Abstract: In Kenya, millions of children have limited access to nurturing care. With the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it is anticipated that vulnerable children will bear the biggest brunt of the direct and indirect impacts of the pandemic. This review aimed to deepen understanding of the effects of COVID-19 on nurturing care from conception to four years of age, a period where the care of children is often delivered through caregivers or other informal platforms. The review has drawn upon the empirical evidence from previous pandemics and epidemics, and anecdotal and emerging evidence from the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Multifactorial impacts fall into five key domains: direct health; health and nutrition systems; economic protection; social and child protection; and child development and early learning. The review proposes program and policy strategies to guide the reorientation of nurturing care, prevent the detrimental effects associated with deteriorating nurturing care environments, and support the optimal development of the youngest and most vulnerable children. These include the provision of cash transfers and essential supplies for vulnerable households and strengthening of community-based platforms for nurturing care. Further research on COVID-19 and the ability of children’s ecology to provide nurturing care is needed, as is further testing of new ideas.

Keywords: COVID-19; impacts; nurturing care; early childhood development (ECD); maternal; newborn; child health; child growth development; early brain development; vulnerable children and families (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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