Improving early child development in Kenya using mobile technology
Official title: Achieving Sustained Early Child Development Impacts at Scale: a Kenyan RCT
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-10899612 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using mobile phones can help parents in low-resource areas support their young children's growth and development, making it easier for families to access helpful parenting tips and group support.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $606,870 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD107116-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10899612 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are families with children under the age of 5 living in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in rural areas of Kenya.
✕Less likely to help
Families with children over the age of 5 or those not residing in low-resource settings may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how mobile health interventions can enhance early childhood development (ECD) outcomes for children under 5 years old in low-resource settings. By utilizing mobile communication technology, the study aims to deliver effective parenting interventions that are both low-cost and sustainable over time. The approach includes community health workers facilitating group meetings to support parents in improving their children's cognitive, language, and socioemotional development. The goal is to find scalable solutions that can be implemented in rural areas where traditional methods may not be feasible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a scalable and sustainable model for improving early childhood development in disadvantaged communities.
How similar studies have gone: While there is limited rigorous research on mobile health interventions for early childhood development in low-income settings, preliminary studies have shown promise in improving developmental outcomes through community-based approaches.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lopez Garcia, Italo — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Lopez Garcia, Italo
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.