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Summits - SBCC and C4D
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Feasibility of Integrating Early Stimulation into Primary Care for Undernourished Jamaican Children: Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial

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Powell, C., Baker-Henningham, H., Walker, S.  Gernay, J. & Grantham-McGregor, S.M. (2004). Feasibility of Integrating Early Stimulation into Primary Care for Undernourished Jamaican Children: Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial. British Medical Journal, 329, 89–92.

Abstract

Objectives :To assess the feasibility of integrating early psychosocial stimulation into primary care for undernourished children and to determine the effect on children's development and mothers' knowledge and practices of childrearing.

Design :Cluster randomised controlled trial.

Setting: 18 clinics in three Jamaican parishes.

Participants :139 undernourished children aged 9 to 30 months and their mothers enrolled in intervention or control clinics.

Interventions:Weekly home visits by community health aides for one year in addition to usual duties. Parenting issues were discussed with the mothers and play activities were demonstrated with the children using homemade materials.

Main outcome: measures Children's scores on the Griffiths mental development scales and mothers' knowledge and practices of childrearing measured by questionnaires.

Results: Children from the intervention group showed significant improvements in development: developmental quotient, 7.8 points (95% confidence interval 4.5 to 11.1); hearing and speech, 10.7 (5.9 to 15.4 points); hand and eye coordination, 6.8 (3.4 to 10.1 points); and performance subscale, 11.0 (5.6 to 16.4 points). No improvements were shown on the locomotor subscale. The mothers from the intervention group showed improved knowledge and practices of childrearing. Change in children's body mass index and height independently affected change in development.

Conclusion: Integrating parenting skills and early psychosocial stimulation for undernourished children into primary care was feasible and effective in improving the children's development and mothers' knowledge and practices of childrearing.