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Transitioning to a Flexible, Tiered, Developmentally Informed Same-Day Screening Model for Preschoolers in
Robyn Smith1, Elizabeth M Jordaan2, Dorothy C Russell3
1School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Insights
A new flexible screening model improves early detection of developmental delays and health risks in preschool children in low-resource settings. This adaptable approach enhances early identification and referral within early childhood care and education platforms.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Public Health
- Global Health
Background:
- Preschool years (ages 3-5) are crucial for development and health, yet many low-resource settings miss early detection opportunities.
- Early childhood care and education (ECCE) platforms in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are underutilized for preventive services due to resource limitations and coordination challenges.
- Barriers include logistical constraints and low caregiver engagement, hindering effective early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To iteratively refine an initial screening protocol into a flexible, tiered model for LMIC ECCE settings.
- To address implementation barriers identified through stakeholder feedback.
- To create a context-sensitive and scalable screening solution.
Main Methods:
- An observational, descriptive study in South Africa collected baseline data on preschoolers' development, sensory function, nutrition, and health.
- A Participatory Action Learning and Action Research (PALAR) approach was used to refine the initial multi-indicator protocol.
- Feedback from caregivers, facilitators, interpreters, fieldworkers, and healthcare professionals guided protocol adaptations.
Main Results:
- Key barriers identified: fragmented scheduling, long sessions, limited interpreters, caregiver disengagement, and challenges with children's behavior.
- A proposed flexible, tiered model was developed to consolidate visits, shorten sessions, improve interpreter support, and streamline tools.
- The model enhances feasibility, accuracy, and cultural responsiveness, supporting scalable application in low-resource ECCE contexts.
Conclusions:
- The proposed screening model offers a context-sensitive, scalable approach for early identification and referral in LMIC ECCE settings.
- Its adaptable structure facilitates broader implementation and better aligns with children's developmental needs.
- This model can inform future policy and integrated service planning for early childhood development.
Background:
The preschool years (ages 3-5) represent a critical window for promoting development and lifelong health. However, in many low-resource settings, developmental delays, sensory impairments and emerging health risks often go undetected. Although early, integrated screening improves outcomes, early childhood care and education (ECCE) platforms in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are underutilized for delivering preventive services. Implementation is hindered by limited resources, poor intersectoral coordination, logistical constraints and low caregiver engagement. This study describes the iterative refinement of an initial screening protocol into a proposed flexible, tiered screening model, embedded within a guiding framework tailored to ECCE settings in LMICs.
Methods:
An observational, descriptive study was conducted in low-resource urban, peri-urban and rural communities in a central South African province to collect baseline data on preschoolers' development, sensory functioning (vision and hearing), nutrition and health (including blood pressure). The initial multi-indicator protocol was implemented and refined using a Participatory Action Learning and Action Research (PALAR) approach. Feedback from caregivers, ECCE facilitators, interpreters, student fieldworkers and healthcare professionals guided adaptations.
Results:
Stakeholders identified key barriers, including fragmented caregiver-child scheduling, long assessment sessions, limited interpreter resources, caregiver disengagement and difficulty engaging children with developmental and behavioural challenges. In response, a proposed model was developed to consolidate visits, reduce session duration, enhance interpreter support and streamline screening tools. The flexible, tiered structure of this proposed model allows assessors to tailor screening based on observed functional capacity, improving feasibility, accuracy and cultural responsiveness. It supports scalable application across similar low-resource ECCE contexts.
Conclusions:
This developmentally informed, proposed screening model, operating within a flexible framework, offers a context-sensitive, scalable approach to improving early identification and referral in LMIC ECCE settings. Its adaptable structure supports broader implementation, enhances alignment with children's developmental needs and informs future policy and integrated service planning.
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