Scaling Up Early Childhood Development in Zambia: Midline Assessment of Parenting Groups Activity

The development objective was to improve health outcomes, particularly for children under the age of five. The project, known as SUpErCDZ, aimed to enhance parenting skills and community-based care for young children. The midline assessment of the Parenting Groups Activity was conducted to evaluate the program's implementation and effectiveness. The study design involved a mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Respondent demographics showed that the majority of participants were women, with a median age of 30 years and an average of 4 children under the age of five. Program implementation fidelity was assessed through various indicators, including current program roles, CBV training and mentorship logistics, implementer skills and resources, and facilitators and barriers to implementation. The results showed that while the program had made significant progress in terms of training and mentorship, there were still challenges related to equipment costs and community buy-in. The study also examined the integration of the CBPG program into the health system, including current health facility services for early childhood development, integration of the program into the health system, and place of the MWH within the program. The results indicated that while there were some challenges related to ownership and coordination, the program had made significant progress in terms of integration. Community perceptions of the CBPG intervention were also assessed, including perceptions of curriculum content and delivery, community beliefs and practices around childcare, and community perspectives on male involvement in caregiving. The results showed that while there were some challenges related to community buy-in and social support, the program had made significant progress in terms of improving parenting skills and community-based care. The study's findings have implications for the further scale-up of SUpErCDZ, including prioritization of early childhood development within the health system, potential facilitators and barriers to further scale-up, and recommendations for implementers. The results also highlight the need for continued monitoring, evaluation, and learning to ensure the program's long-term sustainability and effectiveness. In terms of community perceptions, the study found that caregivers in the intervention group reported higher levels of social support and better childcare practices compared to the control group. However, there were still challenges related to community buy-in and social support, particularly in terms of male involvement in caregiving. The study's limitations include the potential for bias in the data collection methods and the limited generalizability of the findings to other contexts. However, the results provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the CBPG program and its potential for scaling up in Zambia. Overall, the midline assessment of the Parenting Groups Activity provides a comprehensive evaluation of the program's implementation and effectiveness, highlighting both successes and challenges. The findings have implications for the further scale-up of SUpErCDZ and provide valuable insights for policymakers, implementers, and stakeholders working to improve early childhood development in Zambia.