Bridging early development gaps in rural Egypt: a community-based approach to equitable childhood care.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Early childhood development (ECD) is a critical foundation for health, learning, and social well-being. In Egypt, many children suffer from developmental delays, particularly in rural areas where early nurturing care is neglected.

Aim

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a community-based intervention, based on the framework of WHO/UNICEF Care for Early Child Development, in improving caregiving practices and developmental outcomes among children under six years in a rural Egyptian district.

Methods

A quasi-experimental longitudinal study with a post-test-only control group was implemented in one intervention and one control village. The intervention involved structured caregiver education, skill-building sessions, and continuous home-based support del

SUBMITTER: Metwally AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12821242 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature