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Promoting Early Child Development With Interventions in Health and Nutrition: A Systematic Review.

Pediatrics
August 1, 2017
Tyler Vaivada et al. (3 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewSystematic ReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of health and nutrition interventions, including strategies to reduce iron deficiency anemia in infancy, on child development outcomes.

Results Summary

The study found that strategies to reduce iron deficiency anemia in infancy were beneficial, though few interventions had direct measures of child development. Iron-related interventions were among those showing positive effects on child health and development.

Population

Infants at risk of iron deficiency anemia.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (6)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
food and micronutrient supplementation for mothers
decrease
small for gestational age
mothers
-
reduced the risk of
#1
food and micronutrient supplementation for mothers
decrease
iodine deficiency
mothers
-
reduced the risk of
#2
strategies to reduce iron deficiency anemia
decrease
iron deficiency anemia
infancy
-
reduced
#3
early neonatal care (appropriate resuscitation, delayed cord clamping, and Kangaroo Mother Care)
neutral
-
neonates
-
benefit
#4
antenatal corticosteroids
decrease
developmental delay
imminent preterm birth
risk ratio 0.49, 95% confidence interval 0.24 to 1.00
reduced risk of
#5
magnesium sulfate
decrease
gross motor dysfunction
imminent preterm birth
risk ratio 0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.44 to 0.85
reduced risk of
#6
Abstract

CONTEXT: Although effective health and nutrition interventions for reducing child mortality and morbidity exist, direct evidence of effects on cognitive, motor, and psychosocial development is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To review existing evidence for health and nutrition interventions affecting direct measures of (and pathways to) early child development. DATA SOURCES: Reviews and recent overviews of interventions across the continuum of care and component studies. STUDY SELECTION: We selected systematic reviews detailing the effectiveness of health or nutrition interventions that have plausible links to child development and/or contain direct measures of cognitive, motor, and psychosocial development. DATA EXTRACTION: A team of reviewers independently extracted data and assessed their quality. RESULTS: Sixty systematic reviews contained the outcomes of interest. Various interventions reduced morbidity and improved child growth, but few had direct measures of child development. Of particular benefit were food and micronutrient supplementation for mothers to reduce the risk of small for gestational age and iodine deficiency, strategies to reduce iron deficiency anemia in infancy, and early neonatal care (appropriate resuscitation, delayed cord clamping, and Kangaroo Mother Care). Neuroprotective interventions for imminent preterm birth showed the largest effect sizes (antenatal corticosteroids for developmental delay: risk ratio 0.49, 95% confidence interval 0.24 to 1.00; magnesium sulfate for gross motor dysfunction: risk ratio 0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.44 to 0.85). LIMITATIONS: Given the focus on high-quality studies captured in leading systematic reviews, only effects reported within studies included in systematic reviews were captured. CONCLUSIONS: These findings should guide the prioritization and scale-up of interventions within critical periods of early infancy and childhood, and encourage research into their implementation at scale.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Adaptation, PsychologicalChildChild HealthChild Nutrition DisordersChild, PreschoolDevelopmental DisabilitiesEarly Medical InterventionEvidence-Based MedicineFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornPregnancy
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality85/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations60
Citations/Year7.5
Relative Citation Ratio3.47
NIH Percentile87.8%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score2.24
Normalized Score0.67
Related Supplements
Promoting Early Child Development With Interventions in Heal... | Panacea Index