Investigating the long-term effects of early childhood parenting interventions in Kenya
Official title: Can Successful Early Childhood Interventions Sustain Impacts into Middle Childhood? A test from Kenya
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-10871504 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether group meetings for parents in Kenya can help their young children grow and develop better, compared to regular home visits, by teaching them how to be more responsive and supportive in their caregiving.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 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 17, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $332,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD115216-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10871504 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are parents or caregivers of children aged 0-11 years living in low- and middle-income communities in Kenya.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who may not benefit include those outside the specified age range or those not residing in the targeted low- and middle-income areas.
What this research studies
This research focuses on evaluating whether early childhood parenting interventions can have lasting positive effects on child development in low- and middle-income countries, specifically in Kenya. The approach involves community-based group meetings that coach parents on responsive caregiving, aiming to improve developmental outcomes for children aged 0-11 years. By comparing the effectiveness of these group interventions to traditional individual home visits, the study seeks to understand how social support and peer learning can sustain developmental benefits over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and sustainable parenting programs that enhance child development outcomes in resource-poor settings.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that group-based parenting interventions can be effective in improving early childhood development outcomes, but evidence on their long-term sustainability is still limited.
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
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.