RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Child development assessment tools in low-income and middle-income countries: how can we use them more appropriately?
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 482
OP 488
DO 10.1136/archdischild-2014-308114
VO 100
IS 5
A1 Saraswathy Sabanathan
A1 Bridget Wills
A1 Melissa Gladstone
YR 2015
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/100/5/482.abstract
AB 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.