The first part of this two-part webinar on “Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS) for Preventing Child Malnutrition, Improving Child Survival and Promoting Healthy Development” took place on May 4. Participants discussed “The evidence base for efficacy and effectiveness of SQ-LNS: Who benefits most?”

Watch part 1: Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements – Day 1

Preventing Child Malnutrition and Promoting Healthy Development

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A new study published in Social Science & Medicine by Prado and colleagues shows that maternal depression is the predominant persistent risk for child cognitive and social-emotional problems from early childhood to pre-adolescence.

Many studies have examined the consequences of the timing of linear growth faltering for children’s cognitive outcomes and whether catch-up in growth is associated with catch-up in cognitive development. Less is known about the timing of exposures to other risks and their developmental consequences.

This question is especially important because the middle childhood years (age 5-9) have been largely neglected in public health programs and research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). An essential package of interventions for children age 5-14 has been proposed, which includes health interventions, such as deworming and tetanus vaccination, as well as dietary interventions, such as school feeding programs and micronutrient supplementation (Bundy et al. 2018).

In a longitudinal cohort of 359 children in Indonesia, we examined the developmental consequences of the timing of exposure to four risk factors: linear growth faltering, low hemoglobin, inadequate home environment, and maternal depressive symptoms.

We observed variation in continuity of exposure to risks from age 3.5 to 9-12 years. Some children were exposed to early risks then experienced improved conditions. Others experienced positive conditions early with late-onset risk, while others were chronically exposed to high-risk or low-risk environments.

Exposure to maternal depressive symptoms was the only risk factor that was associated with both cognitive and social-emotional problems during both early childhood and pre-adolescence. At age 9-12 y, children of mothers who had persistent high depressive symptoms showed very high social-emotional problems, more than 1 SD above the overall mean.

Early childhood home quality was also a major risk, with children in high quality homes scoring 8 IQ points above those in low quality homes.

Low hemoglobin concentration during both early childhood and pre-adolescence was associated with cognitive outcomes, but no associations were found with linear growth faltering when adjusting for other risk exposures.

While the essential package of interventions for children age 5-14 has focused on biomedical risks, supporting children to fulfill their developmental potential will require interventions that also address socio-environmental risks, such as promoting maternal mental health and responsive care and learning opportunities in the home environment.

The Nurturing Care Framework is evidence-based multilayered dynamic framework that promotes human capital development from preconception to early childhood through stable environments. According to the framework, the five essential components of such environments are those that (1) promote health, (2) provide adequate nutrition, (3) ensure safety and provide protection from threats, (4) ensure opportunities for learning, and (5) ensure relationships that are emotionally supportive and responsive. A new paper recently published in the BMJ Global Health, which was led by Maureen Black and co-authored by Elizabeth Prado, extends this framework from preconception through adolescence. 

Attaining the Sustainable Development Goals depends on strengthening human capital formation. Embedded in enabling laws, policies and services, the dynamic components of the Nurturing Care Framework can mitigate adversities, enhance resilience and promote the well-being of marginalized groups. The life-course extension of the Nurturing Care Framework is strategically positioned to enhance human capital, to attain the Sustainable Development Goals and to ensure that children and adolescents are not left behind in reaching their developmental potential.