Academic Journal
Interventions to promote early child development in the Middle East and North Africa Arab countries: protocol for a scoping review.
| Title: | Interventions to promote early child development in the Middle East and North Africa Arab countries: protocol for a scoping review. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Charafeddine L; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon., Nabulsi M; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon., Al Farran M; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon., Hamzeh C; Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon., El Zein O; Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon., Alsager A; Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA., Aldos S; Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA., Shah M; Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA., Fawzi W; Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA., Yousafzai AK; Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA. |
| Source: | Global health action [Glob Health Action] 2026 Dec; Vol. 19 (1), pp. 2720377. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Aug 27. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Taylor & Francis Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101496665 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1654-9880 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 16549880 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Glob Health Action Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: <2016- > : Philadelphia, PA : Taylor & Francis Original Publication: Häggeby : Co-Action Publishing |
| MeSH Terms: | Child Development*, Humans ; Africa, Northern ; Middle East ; Child, Preschool ; Scoping Reviews as Topic ; Infant ; Evidence Gaps |
| Abstract: | The Middle East and North Africa Arab countries face several economic, political, and social challenges that negatively impact early child physical, cognitive, and emotional development. This scoping review aims to summarize the landscape of interventions designed to promote early child development in children under 5 years of age in the Middle East and North Africa Arab countries, highlighting knowledge gaps and areas for future research. We searched Embase, PsycINFO, MEDLINE OVID, and Scopus databases from conception for randomized and non-randomized trials reporting early child development interventions in children below 5 years of age in these countries, published in English, French, or Arabic. We also searched the grey literature and reference lists of relevant peer-reviewed studies and reviews identified in the screening process. Two independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts of retrieved papers for inclusion with discrepancies resolved by discussion among three reviewers, and similarly for reviewing the full text of papers that passed the title/abstract screening phase. We extracted and charted data on study design, participant characteristics of the intervention and comparison groups, study setting, intervention details, primary and secondary outcomes, and key findings using a pre-piloted standardized data extraction form. Data extraction and charting were done independently and in duplicate. The findings were summarized as a descriptive numerical summary of key study characteristics, as well as a thematic narrative synthesis of the intervention types, target populations, and outcomes. The protocol was prospectively registered in Open Science Framework before searching, study selection, and data extraction commenced. |
| References: | PLoS Med. 2021 May 10;18(5):e1003602. (PMID: 33970913) JBI Evid Synth. 2020 Oct;18(10):2119-2126. (PMID: 33038124) Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2024 Mar;1533(1):99-144. (PMID: 38354095) Ann Intern Med. 2018 Oct 2;169(7):467-473. (PMID: 30178033) Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2014 Jan;1308:89-106. (PMID: 24354763) |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Parenting; cognition; emotions; language development; motor skills Local Abstract: [plain-language-summary] Main findings: The Middle East and North Africa Arab countries face several economic, political, and social challenges that can adversely affect early child developmentAdded knowledge: There is a paucity of the literature on early child development interventions from this region.Global health impact for policy and action: This scoping review will highlight critical knowledge gaps pertaining to early child development interventions to inform future research and guide policy initiatives in Arab countries. |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260827 Date Completed: 20260827 Latest Revision: 20260913 |
| Update Code: | 20260914 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13523104 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/16549716.2026.2720377 |
| PMID: | 42657674 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
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