@article{ref1,
title="Paternal stimulation and early child development in low- and middle-income countries",
journal="Pediatrics",
year="2016",
author="Jeong, Joshua and McCoy, Dana Charles and Yousafzai, Aisha K. and Salhi, Carmel and Fink, Günther",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Few studies have examined the relationship between paternal stimulation and children's growth and development, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of paternal stimulation and to assess whether paternal stimulation was associated with early child growth and development. <br><br>METHODS: Data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys rounds 4 and 5 were combined across 38 LMICs. The sample comprised 87 286 children aged 3 and 4 years. Paternal stimulation was measured by the number of play and learning activities (up to 6) a father engaged in with his child over the past 3 days. Linear regression models were used to estimate standardized mean differences in height-for-age z-scores and Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI) z-scores across 3 levels of paternal stimulation, after controlling for other caregivers' stimulation and demographic covariates. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 47.8% of fathers did not engage in any stimulation activities, whereas 6.4% of fathers engaged in 5 or 6 stimulation activities. Children whose fathers were moderately engaged in stimulation (1-4 activities) showed ECDI scores that were 0.09 SD (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.12 to -0.06) lower than children whose fathers were highly engaged; children whose fathers were unengaged showed ECDI scores that were 0.14 SD lower (95% CI: -0.17 to -0.12). Neither moderate paternal stimulation nor lack of paternal stimulation was associated with height-for-age z-scores, relative to high stimulation. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Increasing paternal engagement in stimulation is likely to improve early child development in LMICs.<br><br>Copyright © 2016 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0031-4005",
doi="10.1542/peds.2016-1357",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1357"
}