Promoting Caregiver Early Childhood Development Behaviors through Social and Behavioral Change Communication Program in Tanzania

Eliza Broadbent, McKayla McConkie, Emily Aleson, Lily Kim, Rebekah Stewart, Generose Mulokozi, Kirk A. Dearden, Mary Linehan, Dennis Cherian, Scott Torres, Ben T. Crookston, Parley C. Hall and Joshua H. West
Additional contact information
Eliza Broadbent: Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
McKayla McConkie: Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Emily Aleson: Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Lily Kim: Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Rebekah Stewart: Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Generose Mulokozi: IMA World Health Tanzania, Dar es Saalam 14111, Tanzania
Kirk A. Dearden: Corus International, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Mary Linehan: Corus International, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Dennis Cherian: Corus International, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Scott Torres: RTI International, Washington, DC 20005, USA
Ben T. Crookston: Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Parley C. Hall: Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Joshua H. West: Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-10

Abstract: Objectives: Stunting remains a prevalent issue in Tanzania. The consequences of stunting include reduced height, greater susceptibility to disease, and diminished cognitive ability throughout the lifespan. Lack of psychosocial stimulation is associated with increased stunting, particularly in terms of its cognitive impact. The Addressing Stunting in Tanzania Early (ASTUTE) program was a large social and behavior change communication (SBCC) intervention that aimed to reduce childhood stunting in the region by targeting early childhood development (ECD) behaviors. The purpose of this study is to report on the extent to which exposure to ASTUTE might be related to ECD behaviors. Methods: ASTUTE disseminated program messages via a mass media campaign and interpersonal communication (IPC). Logistic regression models were used to explore the relationship between exposure to TV, radio, IPC messages, and key ECD behaviors of female primary caregivers and male heads of household. Results: Among primary caregivers, IPC was positively associated with all ECD behaviors measured. Radio was associated with all behaviors except drawing with their child. TV was associated with all behaviors except playing with their child. Among heads of household, only the radio was positively associated with the ECD behaviors measured. Conclusions for practice: Findings indicate that SBCC interventions that include mass media and IPC components may be effective at promoting parental engagement in ECD behaviors. Significance: We know that ECD is important for a child’s development. We know that parents play a critical role in promoting ECD behaviors. We are still exploring ways to influence parents so that they are more involved in ECD behaviors. The results presented here provide evidence for successful mass media and IPC efforts to improve parents’ ECD behaviors. We hope this study will add more evidence for large interventions such as these to the literature, and we are very hopeful that governments and large international NGOs will prioritize SBCC approaches in the future, especially in locations where face-to-face interventions may be challenging.

Keywords: early childhood development; mass media; interpersonal communication (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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