Thailand Achievement of SDG Indicator 4.2.1 on Early Child Development

An Analysis of the 2019 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey

Bibliographic Data

ID17800883
AuthorsThitikorn Topothai (0000-0003-0355-4386, Ministry of Public Health, corresponding author), Rapeepong Suphanchaimat (0000-0002-3664-9050, Ministry of Public Health), Chompoonut Topothai (0000-0001-7249-9523, Ministry of Public Health), Viroj Tangcharoensathien (0000-0003-3235-0091, Ministry of Public Health), Nisachol Cetthakrikul (0000-0001-9238-9583, Ministry of Public Health), Orratai Waleewong (0000-0002-6596-6901, Ministry of Public Health)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue13
Pages7599-7599
Publication date2022-06-21
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph19137599
PMID35805256
OpenAlexW4283275098
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited37

The early years of a child's life are the foundation for their future capability development. Poor health, hunger, poverty, low parental education, lack of parental interaction, high screen time, and poor housing environment hamper their development. There is little evidence of a link between early child development (ECD) and sociodemographic factors in Thailand. In response to monitoring the achievement of SDG target 4.2.1 (the proportion of young children who are developmentally on track in health, learning and psychosocial well-being) as required by all UN Member States, this study analyses the prevalence of appropriate levels of ECD and its correlates of Thai children aged 3 to 4 years. A cross-sectional study of the 6th Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) data in 2019 conducted by the National Statistical Office was employed. Face-to-face interviews with mothers and/or legal guardians were conducted. A total of 5787 children aged 3 to 4 were enrolled in this study. The majority of participants, approximately 92.3%, had achieved an appropriate level of ECD index, defined as children who were developmentally on track in at least three out of these four domains: cognitive, physical, social, and learning. Multivariate logistic regression showed that girls had a higher appropriate development index than boys (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 1.56, 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI] 1.28-1.90; children living in the 5th wealth quintile had a higher appropriate index than those in a less well-off family the first wealth quintile (AOR = 2.92, 95% CI: 1.86-4.58. Univariate logistic regression showed children living with parents achieving post-secondary education had a significantly greater appropriate index than children living with parents completing secondary education or below (Crude OR = 1.95, 95% CI 1.47-2.58); children who had appropriate parental interactions of more than four out of six interactions, had a significantly higher chance of having an appropriate index than less than four interactions (Crude OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.14-2.04). Multi-sectoral policies to support child development in low socio-economic households should be strengthened. In addition, family and community should promote parental interactions through reading and playing with young children. Future studies which directly measure ECD in conjunction with regular monitoring through MICS are recommended

Child development · Confidence interval · Developmental psychology · Early childhood · Educational attainment · Logistic regression · Odds ratio · Poverty · Psychosocial · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Demography · Early Childhood Education and Development · Infant Development and Preterm Care · Medicine · Psychology · Gerontology

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