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Published on: March 1, 2019
Passive versus active service delivery: Comparing the effects of two parenting interventions on early cognitive
Sean Sylvia1, Renfu Luo2, Jingdong Zhong3
1Gillings School of Global Public Health and Carolina Population Center, 1101-D McGavran-Greenberg Bldg., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Abstract:
We present the results of a cluster-randomized controlled trial that evaluates the effects of a free, center-based parenting intervention on early cognitive development and parenting practices in 100 rural villages in China. We then compare these effects to a previous trial of a home-based intervention conducted in the same region, using the same parenting curriculum and public service system, accounting for potential differences between the studies. We find that the center-based intervention did not have a significant impact on child development outcomes, but did lead to increases in the material investments, time investments, and parenting skills of caregivers. The average impact of the center-based intervention on child skills and investments in children was significantly smaller than the home-visiting intervention. Analysis of the possible mechanisms suggests that the difference in effects was driven primarily by different patterns of selection into program participation.
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