TY - JOUR

T1 - Developing a context-relevant psychosocial stimulation intervention to promote cognitive development of children with severe acute malnutrition in Mwanza, Tanzania

AU - Jensen, Cecilie L.

AU - Sanga, Erica

AU - Kitt, Heather

AU - PrayGod, George

AU - Kunzi, Happiness

AU - Setebe, Theresia

AU - Filteau, Suzanne

AU - Webster, Jayne

AU - Gladstone, Melissa

AU - Olsen, Mette F.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 Jensen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - More than 250 million children will not meet their developmental potential due to poverty and malnutrition. Psychosocial stimulation has shown promising effects for improving development in children exposed to severe acute malnutrition (SAM) but programs are rarely implemented. In this study, we used qualitative methods to inform the development of a psychosocial stimulation programme to be integrated with SAM treatment in Mwanza, Tanzania. We conducted in-depth interviews with seven caregivers of children recently treated for SAM and nine professionals in early child development. We used thematic content analysis and group feedback sessions and organised our results within the Nurturing Care Framework. Common barriers to stimulate child development included financial and food insecurity, competing time demands, low awareness about importance of responsive caregiving and stimulating environment, poor father involvement, and gender inequality. Caregivers and professionals suggested that community-based support after SAM treatment and counselling on psychosocial stimulation would be helpful, e.g., how to create homemade toys and stimulate through involvement in everyday chores. Based on the findings of this study we developed a context-relevant psychosocial stimulation programme. Some issues identified were structural highlighting the need for programmes to be linked with broader supportive initiatives.

AB - More than 250 million children will not meet their developmental potential due to poverty and malnutrition. Psychosocial stimulation has shown promising effects for improving development in children exposed to severe acute malnutrition (SAM) but programs are rarely implemented. In this study, we used qualitative methods to inform the development of a psychosocial stimulation programme to be integrated with SAM treatment in Mwanza, Tanzania. We conducted in-depth interviews with seven caregivers of children recently treated for SAM and nine professionals in early child development. We used thematic content analysis and group feedback sessions and organised our results within the Nurturing Care Framework. Common barriers to stimulate child development included financial and food insecurity, competing time demands, low awareness about importance of responsive caregiving and stimulating environment, poor father involvement, and gender inequality. Caregivers and professionals suggested that community-based support after SAM treatment and counselling on psychosocial stimulation would be helpful, e.g., how to create homemade toys and stimulate through involvement in everyday chores. Based on the findings of this study we developed a context-relevant psychosocial stimulation programme. Some issues identified were structural highlighting the need for programmes to be linked with broader supportive initiatives.

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0285240

DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0285240

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38722956

AN - SCOPUS:85192836992

VL - 19

JO - PLoS ONE

JF - PLoS ONE

SN - 1932-6203

IS - 5

M1 - e0285240

ER -