How much do Nepalese mothers know about child development?

ABSTRACT

Parental knowledge on child development is important for maximal developmental potential. This study was conducted to assess mothers’ knowledge on child development in Nepal. The Caregivers Knowledge of Child Development Inventory (CKCDI) was used to interview mothers. Total of 1272 mothers were interviewed. Out of the total CKCDI score of 40, mean score (SD) obtained by mothers was 20 (4.8). Mothers’ knowledge on the developmental milestone composite was better than stimulation composite with scores of 11.14 (3.09) and 8.9 (3.17), respectively (p < .005). Few mothers (38%) identified the correct ages of developmental milestones. Although most of the mothers knew about teaching their children to count or name colors, few knew when to start to read with children. With low level of knowledge on child development among Nepalese mothers, early childhood development programmes should be considered integrated with other health care programmes targeting young children and families.

KEYWORDS:

• Child development
• maternal knowledge
• Nepal

Acknowledgement

We are grateful for the contribution of Prof. Prakash Sunder Shrestha, Prof. Laxman Shrestha, Dr Ram Chandyo and Suman Ranjit for their valuable suggestions. We thank field staffs of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and Siddhi Memorial Hospital in Bhaktapur for their co-operation and also the families and children who participated in the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Dr Merina Shrestha is working as an Assistant Professor in Department of Child Health in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. She has special interest in Child Development and Disability and one of the pioneer working in the field of Autism in Nepal. She is currently involved in researches in Child Development in the community.

Dr Manjeswori Ulak is Field Coordinator, Child Health Research Project, Department of Child Health, Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Tor A. Strand, is professor at Innlandet Hospital Trust, 2629 Lillehammer, Norway and Centre for Intervention Science in Maternal and Child Health, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway.

Ingrid Kvestad holds a post doc position at Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Uni Research Health, Norway.

Mari Hysing is professor at Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Uni Research Health, Norway.

ORCID

Merina Shrestha http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2304-0577

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Centre for Intervention Science in Maternal and Child Health, University of Bergen, Norway.