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Review
. 2015 May;100(5):482-8.
doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-308114. Epub 2015 Mar 30.

Child development assessment tools in low-income and middle-income countries: how can we use them more appropriately?

Saraswathy Sabanathan  1 , Bridget Wills  1 , Melissa Gladstone  2
Affiliations
Review

Child development assessment tools in low-income and middle-income countries: how can we use them more appropriately?

Saraswathy Sabanathan et al. Arch Dis Child. 2015 May.

Abstract

Global emphasis has shifted beyond reducing child survival rates to improving health and developmental trajectories in childhood. Optimum early childhood experience is believed to allow children to benefit fully from educational opportunities resulting in improved human capital. Investment in early childhood initiatives in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) is increasing. These initiatives use early childhood developmental assessment tools (CDATs) as outcome measures. CDATs are also key measures in the evaluation of programmatic health initiatives in LMICs, influencing public health policy. Interpretation of CDAT outcomes requires understanding of their structure and psychometric properties. This article reviews the structure and main methods of CDAT development with specific considerations when applied in LMICs.

Keywords: Neurodevelopment; Neurodisability; Outcomes research.

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