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Meta-Analysis
. 2016 Sep-Oct;22(5):E1-8.
doi: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000000378.

Early Childhood Education to Promote Health Equity: A Community Guide Systematic Review

Robert A Hahn  1 , W Steven Barnett, John A Knopf, Benedict I Truman, Robert L Johnson, Jonathan E Fielding, Carles Muntaner, Camara Phyllis Jones, Mindy T Fullilove, Pete C Hunt; Community Preventive Services Task Force
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Early Childhood Education to Promote Health Equity: A Community Guide Systematic Review

Robert A Hahn et al. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2016 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Context: Children in low-income and racial and ethnic minority families often experience delays in development by 3 years of age and may benefit from center-based early childhood education.

Design: A meta-analysis on the effects of early childhood education by Kay and Pennucci best met Community Guide criteria and forms the basis of this review.

Results: There were increases in intervention compared with control children in standardized test scores (median = 0.29 SD) and high school graduation (median = 0.20 SD) and decreases in grade retention (median = 0.23 SD) and special education assignment (median = 0.28 SD). There were decreases in crime (median = 0.23 SD) and teen births (median = 0.46 SD) and increases in emotional self-regulation (median = 0.21 SD) and emotional development (median = 0.04 SD). All effects were favorable, but not all were statistically significant. Effects were also long-lasting.

Conclusions: Because many programs are designed to increase enrollment for high-risk students and communities, they are likely to advance health equity.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Analytic Framework: How Center-Based Early Childhood Educational Programs Affect Educational, Social, and Health-Related Outcomes and Health Equity
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Academic Ability and Performance Fadeout (Combining Achievement and Cognitive Ability), WSIPP Meta-analysis, 2014 Standardized Mean Difference (59 Data Points)a
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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