Examining the effects of an integrated parenting and nutrition intervention on child development

Early childhood (up to age 5 years) is an important and vulnerable period of development. Cognitive and socio-emotional skills during this period are strong predictors of later life outcomes such as employment status, mental health, and overall well-being. Children are particularly sensitive to external factors in this period, and it is therefore important to understand the mechanisms which influence their development. The Engaging Fathers for Effective Child Nutrition and Development in Tanzania (EFFECTS) trial is an intervention which aims to improve child development by targeting parenting and feeding practices. Parents were assigned to one of five groups: a mother-only nutrition intervention, a nutrition intervention for both mothers and fathers, a mother-only integrated nutrition and parenting intervention, an integrated nutrition and parenting intervention for both mothers and fathers, and a local standard of care control. My research project will consist of testing the following hypotheses: 1) an intervention approach that engages fathers will benefit children’s cognitive and socio-emotional outcomes, 2) an integrated parenting and nutrition intervention will benefit child outcomes, and 3) an approach that both engages fathers and integrates parenting and nutrition will benefit child outcomes.

Faculty Supervisor:

Sylvana Côté

Student:

Partner:

Harvard University

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

Université de Montréal

Program: