1
|
Rao DN, Su Y, Chan SWY. Reliability and Validity of the East Asia-Pacific Early Child Development Scales: A Longitudinal Validation Study in China. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2023:10.1007/s10578-023-01526-9. [PMID: 36988776 PMCID: PMC10050822 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-023-01526-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the test-retest reliability and predictive validity of the East Asia-Pacific Early Child Development Scales (EAP-ECDS) Short Form. In China, preschools typically provide children with educational activities in age-segregated classrooms - Kindergarten Level 1 (K1) (3 to 4 years), Kindergarten Level 2 (K2) (4 to 5 years), and Kindergarten Level 3 (K3) (5 to 6 years). A total of 709 children in K2 (Mage = 57.85 months, SD = 4.77) were randomly selected from 29 kindergartens in Shanghai municipality and Guizhou province of China. Children were assessed using the EAP-ECDS in K2 and K3. School readiness was assessed in K3, and literacy and mathematics achievement were assessed in Grade 2. Pearson's correlation coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC = 0.73) indicated that the tool had good test-retest reliability across K2 and K3. Regarding predictive validity, K2 EAP-ECDS predicted K3 school readiness (β = 0.26), Grade 2 language and literacy (β = 0.18) and mathematics (β = 0.22) after adjusting for age, gender, socioeconomic status, and region. Findings support using the tool to measure the holistic development of preschool-aged children in China and the region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dr Nirmala Rao
- Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Yufen Su
- Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Stephanie W Y Chan
- Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Schirmbeck K, Runge R, Rao N, Wang R, Richards B, Chan SWY, Maehler C. Assessing executive functions in preschoolers in Germany and Hong Kong: testing for measurement invariance. JOURNAL OF CULTURAL COGNITIVE SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s41809-022-00112-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
4
|
Pushparatnam A, Luna Bazaldua DA, Holla A, Azevedo JP, Clarke M, Devercelli A. Measuring Early Childhood Development Among 4-6 Year Olds: The Identification of Psychometrically Robust Items Across Diverse Contexts. Front Public Health 2021; 9:569448. [PMID: 33614575 PMCID: PMC7888256 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.569448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The last 15 years have seen an explosion of measurement tools for assessing the development of young children in low- and middle- income countries. This paper builds on and contributes to that literature by identifying a core set of caregiver-report items and a core set of direct assessment items that measure key developmental domains for children aged 4–6 (48–83 months) and that demonstrate adequate psychometric properties across diverse contexts, the first in this age group to the authors' knowledge. Data were harmonized from previous early childhood measurement efforts in 12 countries that all used the same base measurement tool. Data analyses yielded 20 caregiver report items and 84 child direct assessment items (grouped into 16 tasks) that show strong item-level statistics across countries and that cover the domains of early literacy, early numeracy, executive functioning, and social-emotional competencies. Next steps include adding data and items from other measurement tools to the same analytical framework and field testing across a number of contexts and early childhood measurement efforts. The vision is for the resulting core sets of items, along with guidance on data collection, management, and analysis, to serve as global public goods so that they can (i) present a starting point for linking across different early childhood measurement tools for children aged 4–6; (ii) increase quality across measurement efforts; and (iii) facilitate the scale up of early childhood measurement. When supplemented with items that capture local contexts and their measurement needs, these core sets of items should help to advance understanding of universal and context-specific factors that underlie child development and thus help policymakers make decisions that ensure children receive the quality early childhood care and education they need in order to reach their full potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alaka Holla
- World Bank Group, Washington, DC, United States
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Rodriguez VJ, Zegarac M, La Barrie DL, Parrish MS, Matseke G, Peltzer K, Jones DL. Validation of the Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener Among HIV-Exposed Infants in Rural South Africa. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2020; 85:507-516. [PMID: 33136752 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000002479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Screening for developmental delays during critical periods of infant development is essential for early detection and intervention. Among high-risk infants in resource-limited settings, including those who are HIV exposed, there is a greater need for screening. This study expanded on previous analyses of the Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener (BINS) by providing psychometric properties to evaluate the appropriateness of using the BINS in a sample of HIV-exposed infants in rural South Africa. METHOD A total of 160 mothers with HIV, their infants, and their male partners were recruited. The BINS was administered to the infants, and their weights were recorded. Mothers completed measures of depression, intimate partner violence, male involvement, and adherence. Male partners reported their own involvement in perinatal care. RESULTS Results demonstrated support for a 5-factor structure consistent with previous transcultural adaptations of the BINS, demonstrating construct validity, and adequate reliability. Convergent validity was partially supported, as shown by associations with intimate partner violence and male involvement as reported by men and women and maternal adherence, although not with birth weight or maternal depression. The BINS showed adequate discriminating power, with only a few low-performing items. CONCLUSION In rural South Africa, a resource-limited setting, the BINS seems to be an adequate screening tool for developmental delays in children that may be used to identify those in need of intervention. Considering the high prevalence of delays identified in this study, antiretroviral therapy-exposed and HIV-exposed infants may benefit from further assessment to determine a need for intervention in community-based clinics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Violeta J Rodriguez
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Miriam Zegarac
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
| | | | - Manasi Soni Parrish
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Gladys Matseke
- Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Research and Innovation Chief-Directorate, National School of Government, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Karl Peltzer
- Social Aspects of Public Health (SAPH) Research Programme, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Psychology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontain, South Africa; and
| | - Deborah L Jones
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sincovich A, Gregory T, Zanon C, Santos DD, Lynch J, Brinkman SA. Measuring early child development in low and middle income countries: Investigating the validity of the early Human Capability Index. SSM Popul Health 2020; 11:100613. [PMID: 32637554 PMCID: PMC7327282 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2020.100613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Inclusion of early child development in the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda raises issues of how this goal should be monitored, particularly in low resource settings. The aim of this paper was to explore the validity of the early Human Capability Index (eHCI); a population measure designed to capture the holistic development of children aged 3-5 years. Convergent, divergent, discriminant and concurrent validity were examined by exploring the associations between eHCI domains and child (sex, age, stunting status, preschool attendance) and family (maternal education, home learning environment) characteristics. Analyses were repeated using data from seven low and middle income countries: Brazil (n = 1810), China (n = 11421), Kiribati (n = 8339), Lao PDR (n = 7493), Samoa (n = 12191), Tonga (n = 6214), and Tuvalu (n = 549). Correlations and linear regressions provide evidence that within these country samples, the tool is capturing the aspects of early child development that it was designed to measure. Although the tool was intended to measure development of children aged 3-5 years, results suggest it can be validly applied to children aged 2-6 years. The eHCI is free, requires minimal implementation resources, captures development across domains and abilities, and is designed to allow cultural and contextual concepts to be included. The eHCI appears psychometrically robust in diverse country contexts and could enable evaluation of early years policies and programs, as well as monitoring of children's development to track progress towards the Sustainable Development Agenda.
Collapse
Key Words
- AEDC, Australian Early Development Census
- ASQ, Ages and Stages Questionnaire
- CI, confidence interval
- CREDI, Caregiver Reported Early Development Instrument
- EAP-ECDS, East Asia Pacific Early Child Development Scales
- ECD, early child development
- EDI, Early Development Instrument
- Early child development
- Early human capability index
- IDELA, International Development and Early Learning Assessment
- LMICs, low and middle income countries
- Low and middle income countries
- MICS-ECDI, Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Early Childhood Development Index
- MODEL, Measure of Development and Early Learning
- PDR, People's Democratic Republic
- Population monitoring
- Program evaluation
- SDG, Sustainable Development Goal
- Sustainable development goals
- eHCI, early Human Capability Index
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alanna Sincovich
- School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Level 9, Adelaide Health and Medical Science Building, 57 North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Level 15, 31 Flinders St., Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Tess Gregory
- School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Level 9, Adelaide Health and Medical Science Building, 57 North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Level 15, 31 Flinders St., Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Cristian Zanon
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Personality, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP 90035-003, Brazil
| | - Daniel D. Santos
- Department of Economy, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto, 908, Butantã, São Paulo, 05508-010, Brazil
| | - John Lynch
- School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Level 9, Adelaide Health and Medical Science Building, 57 North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, First Floor, 5 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1UD, United Kingdom
| | - Sally A. Brinkman
- School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Level 9, Adelaide Health and Medical Science Building, 57 North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Level 15, 31 Flinders St., Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| |
Collapse
|