Overview
More than 275 million children in low- and middle-income countries are at risk of suboptimal development, including over 66% of children in sub-Saharan Africa. In Tanzania 43% of children are at high risk of not achieving their full potential for growth and development. Risk factors for suboptimal development include poverty, nutritional deficiencies, maternal depression, family stress, inadequate stimulation, violence, and maltreatment.
Children of adolescent mothers are also at increased risk of developmental delay. Early childhood provides a critical window of opportunity to support a child’s healthy development and to build a foundation for wellbeing across the life course. This brief describes the Malezi project, implemented by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation in Tanzania to support the sustainable integration of nurturing care interventions to support optimal early childhood development (ECD) into maternal and child health (MNCH) services in health facilities and communities in Tanzania.
