Improving early child development in Kenya using mobile technology

Achieving Sustained Early Child Development Impacts at Scale: a Kenyan RCT

NIH-funded research University of Southern California · NIH-10899612

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Southern California NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-10899612 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: 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.

Not a fit: Families with children over the age of 5 or those not residing in low-resource settings may not benefit from this research.

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 performed: 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

Los Angeles, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.