Across Domains: An Integrated Approach to Assessing Parenting Practices for Early Childhood Development in Ethiopia

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Across Domains: An Integrated Approach to Assessing Parenting Practices for Early Childhood Development in Ethiopia
Language: English
Authors: Marlous de Milliano (ORCID 0000-0003-0786-0559), Elizabeth Spier, Belay Hagos Hailu, Varsha Ranjit, Cody Bock, John Downes
Source: Journal of Early Childhood Research. 2025 23(1):61-77.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 17
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Descriptors: Parenting Styles, Foreign Countries, Early Childhood Education, Global Approach, Educational Policy, Policy Formation, Educational Indicators, Parent Role, Knowledge Level, Access to Information, Access to Health Care, Safety, Security (Psychology), Health, Childhood Needs
Geographic Terms: Ethiopia
DOI: 10.1177/1476718X241293879
ISSN: 1476-718X
1741-2927
Abstract: While there is an increasing global call for integrated approaches to early childhood development (ECD) policy-making and implementation, parenting practices are not consistently measured against comprehensive ECD indicators. This study on parenting for ECD in Ethiopia was guided by the Nurturing Care Framework (NCF) to capture parenting practices within and across five essential caregiving domains: nutrition, health, safety and security, early learning and responsive caregiving. It used a mixed-methods design to analyse parenting practices of young children across five population settings in Ethiopia (i.e. urban, rural, pastoralist, internally displaced populations and refugee settings). The findings show that across these settings, parenting practices often fell short of what was needed for children's healthy growth and development; especially with regards to nutrition, safety and security, and health. The parenting practices were mostly due to a lack of access, lack of knowledge or information and financial constraints. Children experienced unmet needs across multiple domains. Children were the least likely to receive adequate nurturing care if they lived in rural households, lived in a home where caregivers and household heads had not completed primary education, and/or where caregivers had a lower sense of self-efficacy.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1466327
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:While there is an increasing global call for integrated approaches to early childhood development (ECD) policy-making and implementation, parenting practices are not consistently measured against comprehensive ECD indicators. This study on parenting for ECD in Ethiopia was guided by the Nurturing Care Framework (NCF) to capture parenting practices within and across five essential caregiving domains: nutrition, health, safety and security, early learning and responsive caregiving. It used a mixed-methods design to analyse parenting practices of young children across five population settings in Ethiopia (i.e. urban, rural, pastoralist, internally displaced populations and refugee settings). The findings show that across these settings, parenting practices often fell short of what was needed for children's healthy growth and development; especially with regards to nutrition, safety and security, and health. The parenting practices were mostly due to a lack of access, lack of knowledge or information and financial constraints. Children experienced unmet needs across multiple domains. Children were the least likely to receive adequate nurturing care if they lived in rural households, lived in a home where caregivers and household heads had not completed primary education, and/or where caregivers had a lower sense of self-efficacy.
ISSN:1476-718X
1741-2927
DOI:10.1177/1476718X241293879