Importance of Mental Health for Normal Child Development: Recommendations

IntroductionIn low- and middle-income countries, children experience multiple risks for delayed development. We evaluated a multicomponent, group-based early child development intervention including behavioural recommendations on responsive stimulation, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, mental health and lead exposure prevention.MethodsWe conducted a 9-month, parallel, multiarm, cluster-randomised controlled trial in 31 rural villages in Kishoreganj District, Bangladesh. Villages were randomly allocated to: group sessions (‘group’); alternating groups and home visits (‘combined’); or a passive control arm. Sessions were delivered fortnightly by trained community members. The primary outcome was child stimulation (Family Care Indicators); the secondary outcome was child development (Ages and Stages Questionnaire Inventory, ASQi). Other outcomes included dietary diversity, latrine status, use of a child potty, handwashing infrastructure, caregiver mental health and knowledge of lead. Analyses were intention to treat. Data collectors were independent from implementers.ResultsIn July–August 2017, 621 pregnant women and primary caregivers of children<15 months were enrolled (group n=160, combined n=160, control n=301). At endline, immediately following intervention completion (July–August 2018), 574 participants were assessed (group n=144, combined n=149, control n=281). Primary caregivers in both intervention arms participated in more play activities than control caregivers (age-adjusted means: group 4.22, 95% CI 3.97 to 4.47; combined 4.77, 4.60 to 4.96; control 3.24, 3.05 to 3.39), and provided a larger variety of play materials (age-adjusted means: group 3.63, 3.31 to 3.96; combined 3.81, 3.62 to 3.99; control 2.48, 2.34 to 2.59). Compared with the control arm, children in the group arm had higher total ASQi scores (adjusted mean difference in standardised scores: 0.39, 0.15 to 0.64), while in the combined arm scores were not significantly different from the control (0.25, –0.07 to 0.54).ConclusionOur findings suggest that group-based, multicomponent interventions can be effective at improving child development outcomes in rural Bangladesh, and that they have the potential to be delivered at scale.Trial registration numberThe trial is registered in ISRCTN (ISRCTN16001234).

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The Beattie‐Smith Lectures SOME ASPECTS OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH

The Medical Journal of Australia ◽

10.5694/j.1326-5377.1947.tb108939.x ◽

1947 ◽

Vol 1 (24) ◽

pp. 717-724

Author(s):

Guy Springthorpe

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Child Development

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Effects of air pollution, land-use type, and maternal mental health on child development in the first two years of life in the Greater Taipei area

Environmental Research ◽

10.1016/j.envres.2021.111168 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 197 ◽

pp. 111168

Author(s):

Ming-Lun Zou ◽

Chuen-Bin Jiang ◽

Yi-Hua Chen ◽

Chih-Da Wu ◽

Shih-Chun Candice Lung ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Land Use ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Child Development ◽

Maternal Mental Health ◽

Land Use Type

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Child development and family mental health in war and military violence: The Palestinian experience

International Journal of Behavioral Development ◽

10.1177/0165025408090973 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 310-321 ◽

Cited By ~ 103

Author(s):

Samir Qouta ◽

Raija-Leena Punamäki ◽

Eyad El Sarraj

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Child Development ◽

Peer Relations ◽

Cognitive Capacity ◽

Palestinian Authority ◽

Related Factors ◽

Developmental Issues ◽

Governmental Organization ◽

Military Violence

The article reviews developmental research among Palestinians living in Gaza. The aims are, first, to analyze how exposure to traumatic events associates with children's mental health and their cognitive, emotional and social development. Second, we aimed to model familial and symbolic processes that can either harm or protect the mental health of children. Third, we wanted to learn who the resilient children are in conditions of war and military violence. The reviewed research has been conducted in the context of a Palestinian non-governmental organization, the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, during the political upheavals involving hopes for peace and intensive war and violence: the First Intifada (1987—1993), the Palestinian Authority rule (1994— ) and the Second Al Aqsa Intifada (2001— ). The results show that life threat, violence and losses form a risk for increased psychological distress. There are, however, a myriad of child, family and society related factors and psycho-socio-physiological processes that protect child development and mental health. They include, e.g. loving and wisely guiding parenting, children's flexible and high cognitive capacity, flexible and multiple coping strategies and narrative and symbolic nocturnal dreaming, as well as social support and good peer relations. Different models explain psychological distress and positive resources, including child resilience. Exposure to trauma is crucial in predicting distress, while familial and developmental issues are important in building resilience. Children's conscious and unconscious cognitive-emotional processes are crucial for underlying mental health and knowledge about them is important in tailoring evidence-based preventive interventions among war victims.

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THE DIMENSIONS OF COMPREHENSIVE PEDIATRICS

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.26.5.729 ◽

1960 ◽

Vol 26 (5) ◽

pp. 729-732

Author(s):

John A. Rose

Keyword(s):

Child Development ◽

Newborn Infant ◽

Normal Child ◽

Case Material ◽

Child Rearing ◽

High Incidence

The Case material presented in the paper by Kennell and Rolnick in this issue of Pediatrics illustrates some of the problems encountered in a project for the study of child rearing, particularly in reference to the unanticipated high incidence of cases in which the survival of a newborn infant was threatened by a health complication. In a way, the project might be said to have had bad luck in encountering such complications in two out of three cases, rather than in one out of five, as might have been expected. However, tile statistical mischance, which would have tended to correct itself as the number of cases in the sample increased has served a useful purpose by calling attention to a problem that is becoming more and more important for pediatric training and practice, as well as for studies in normal child development.

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Early awareness of death in normal child development

Infant Mental Health Journal ◽

10.1002/1097-0355(198322)4:2<95::aid-imhj2280040204>3.0.co;2-f ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 95-103

Author(s):

Yuette G. Janssen

Keyword(s):

Child Development ◽

Normal Child

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“Watch Me Grow- Electronic (WMG-E)” surveillance approach to identify and address child development, parental mental health, and psychosocial needs: study protocol

BMC Health Services Research ◽

10.1186/s12913-021-07243-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

V. Eapen ◽

S. Woolfenden ◽

V. Schmied ◽

B. Jalaludin ◽

K. Lawson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Child Development ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Parental Engagement ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Trial Registration ◽

Psychosocial Needs ◽

Parental Mental Health ◽

Developmental Surveillance ◽

Health And Social Care

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated economic recession has increased parental psychosocial stress and mental health challenges. This has adversely impacted child development and wellbeing, particularly for children from priority populations (culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and rural/regional communities) who are at an already increased risk of health inequality. The increased mental health and psychosocial needs were compounded by the closure of in-person preventive and health promotion programs resulting in health organisations embracing technology and online services. Watch Me Grow- Electronic (WMG-E) – developmental surveillance platform- exemplifies one such service. WMG-E was developed to monitor child development and guide parents towards more detailed assessments when risk is identified. This Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) aims to expand WMG-E as a digital navigation tool by also incorporating parents’ mental health and psychosocial needs. Children and families needing additional assessments and supports will be electronically directed to relevant resources in the ‘care-as-usual’ group. In contrast, the intervention group will receive continuity of care, with additional in-person assessment and ‘warm hand over’ by a ‘service navigator’ to ensure their needs are met. Methods Using an RCT we will determine: (1) parental engagement with developmental surveillance; (2) access to services for those with mental health and social care needs; and (3) uptake of service recommendations. Three hundred parents/carers of children aged 6 months to 3 years (recruited from a culturally diverse, or rural/regional site) will be randomly allocated to the ‘care-as-usual’ or ‘intervention’ group. A mixed methods implementation evaluation will be completed, with semi-structured interviews to ascertain the acceptability, feasibility and impact of the WMG-E platform and service navigator. Conclusions Using WMG-E is expected to: normalise and de-stigmatise mental health and psychosocial screening; increase parental engagement and service use; and result in the early identification and management of child developmental needs, parental mental health, and family psychosocial needs. If effective, digital solutions such as WMG-E to engage and empower parents alongside a service navigator for vulnerable families needing additional support, will have significant practice and policy implications in the pandemic/post pandemic period. Trial registration The trial (Protocol No. 1.0, Version 3.1) was registered with ANZCTR (registration number: ACTRN12621000766819) on July 21st, 2021 and reporting of the trial results will be according to recommendations in the CONSORT Statement.

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