In Bangladesh, more than 38% of children under the age of five exhibit low cognitive and socio-emotional development. A study by the World Bank found that $1 invested in early childhood development (ECD) can generate up to $17 in economic benefits.
Experts said that early development from zero to 18 months is crucial. Investing in early childhood development is a smart investment that will help build better human resources.
They added that providing training to parents across the country not only enhances child development but also improves the mental health of mothers.
These comments were made on Monday during a research findings dissemination program on the "Assessment of the Effects of the Mother and Child Benefit Program (MCBP) on Children’s Cognitive Development."
The program, held in Dhaka, was organized by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. The research was conducted by the Shuchona Foundation (SF), supported by the World Food Programme (WFP), and received technical support from the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research Bangladesh (CIPRB).
The study results indicated that the intervention has been effective in increasing mothers' knowledge, boosting their confidence, and reducing their stress. While developmental pathways become almost stagnant at 12 months in both intervention and control areas, a significant gap emerges at 18 months.
Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel said that proper early development transforms children into learners and worthy citizens. He emphasized that if relevant ministries, including the Ministries of Health, Education, and Women and Children Affairs, collaborate effectively, it is possible to improve early childhood development across the country.
He added that mothers should be educated through learning activities to support their children's development. This will lead to improvements in mothers' indices as well. He noted that the government's mother and child and student allowances have made a positive impact on families in marginalized areas.
The findings of the research, titled "Assessment of the Effects of the Mother and Child Benefit Program on the Cognitive Development of Children," were presented by Dr Helal Uddin Ahmed from the Shuchona Foundation.
According to the research, the percentage of parental stress among beneficiary mothers and caregivers in the intervention area, where the government provided allowances and training to pregnant mothers, is 59.56%, compared to 64.16% in the control area where project activities are not carried out.
In terms of children’s problem-solving skills, the intervention area (Godagari) showed scores of 100 at 6, 12, and 18 months, whereas the control area (Lalpur) scored 77, 99, and 76 respectively.
Health Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen emphasized the importance of intellectual development alongside physical growth. He suggested that to ensure significant development in Bangladesh's children, inter-ministry-based action plans should be formulated, with all districts enhancing parenting learning sessions through various activities.
Dr Dipu Moni, minister of social welfare, highlighted the research's findings, indicating that focusing specifically on the poor population can lead to a significant improvement in their children's early development.
She added that investing in a child's early development is a wise investment.
The research was conducted in two upazilas: Godagari, Rajshahi (Intervention Area), and Lalpur, Natore (Control Area), to assess children's cognitive developmental milestones based on the Social Communication Emotional Skill Development (SCESD) manual developed by the Shuchona Foundation.
Minister for Women and Children Affairs Simin Hossain (Rimi) highlighted the critical role of the period from the mother's womb to the first 1000 days in a child's growth. She highlighted the importance of addressing issues related to child development, maternal mortality reduction, and the prevention of child marriage.
"We need to undertake comprehensive efforts in collaboration with related ministries and divisions," she said.
Co-investigator SM Saidur Rahman Mashreky from CIPRB mentioned that the intervention, which focuses on enhancing child nurturing knowledge from birth to four years old according to the SCESD manual, has proven effective. It has improved communication, gross and fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities, and personal/social behavioral skills among children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This underscores the significance of comprehensive support programs in addressing socioeconomic disparities in child development outcomes.
Furthermore, the intervention enhances early childhood development and parental confidence while reducing stress.
According to the Early Childhood Nurturing Care Framework, the study enhances the feasibility of the current support system to achieve our Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and enable better outcomes in later childhood and adulthood.