Digital support systems to improve child development in Peru: A cluster-randomized controlled open-label trial.
Günther Fink1,2, Dana Charles McCoy3, Lena Jäggi1,2
1Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.
Science Advances
|March 4, 2026
Summary
Digital parenting chatbots and home visits both improved early childhood development (ECD). The AI chatbot was more cost-effective, offering a scalable solution for resource-limited settings.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health Interventions
Background:
- Early childhood development (ECD) interventions are crucial for long-term outcomes.
- Scaling effective ECD interventions in resource-constrained settings remains a challenge.
- Digital technologies offer potential for personalized, large-scale support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a digital parenting chatbot compared to traditional home visits.
- To assess the impact of these interventions on child development outcomes.
- To determine the viability of digital platforms for ECD in low-resource environments.
Main Methods:
- Cluster-randomized controlled trial in rural Peru.
- Involved 2461 caregiver-child dyads.
- Compared an AI-supported digital parenting chatbot with traditional home visits.
Main Results:
- Both digital and home-visiting interventions significantly improved child development outcomes at 2.5 years.
- Standardized effect sizes were 0.11 for the digital intervention and 0.17 for home visits.
- The digital intervention was 1/15th the cost of in-person support, demonstrating superior cost-effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- Digital platforms, particularly AI-powered chatbots, are effective and highly cost-effective for improving early childhood development.
- These digital interventions present a scalable alternative to traditional methods in resource-limited settings.
- Technology can bridge gaps in delivering essential developmental support to young children globally.
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