Premium
Capacity building in the health sector to improve care for child nutrition and development
Author(s) -
Yousafzai Aisha K.,
Rasheed Muneera A.,
Daelmans Bernadette,
Manji Sheila,
Arnold Caroline,
Lingam Raghu,
Muskin Joshua,
Lucas Jane E.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/nyas.12322
Subject(s) - capacity building , psychological intervention , intervention (counseling) , business , nursing , child development , health care , quality (philosophy) , capacity development , medicine , public relations , economic growth , psychology , environmental health , political science , environmental resource management , developmental psychology , economics , philosophy , epistemology
The effectiveness of interventions promoting healthy child growth and development depends upon the capacity of the health system to deliver a high‐quality intervention. However, few health workers are trained in providing integrated early child‐development services. Building capacity entails not only training the frontline worker, but also mobilizing knowledge and support to promote early child development across the health system. In this paper, we present the paradigm shift required to build effective partnerships between health workers and families in order to support children's health, growth, and development, the practical skills frontline health workers require to promote optimal caregiving, and the need for knowledge mobilization across multiple institutional levels to support frontline health workers. We present case studies illustrating challenges and success stories around capacity development. There is a need to galvanize increased commitment and resources to building capacity in health systems to deliver early child‐development services.