Digital support systems to improve child development in Peru: A cluster-randomized controlled open-label trial.
rct · Level II
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41779842.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/sciadv.aeb9403 and PMC identifier 12959410.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Digital technologies have the potential to transform early childhood development (ECD) interventions by delivering personalized support at scale. We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial in rural Peru to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an artificial intelligence-supported digital parenting chatbot as well as traditional home visits as interventions to improve child development. Among 2461 caregiver-child dyads, both the digital and home-visiting interventions improved child development outcomes at 2.5 years of age, with standardized effect sizes of 0.11 and 0.17, respectively. At <sup>1</sup>/<sub>15</sub> of the cost of in-person support, the digital intervention yielded superior cost-effectiveness. These findings suggest that digital platforms can be a viable, scalable alternative to support children's development in resource-constrained settings.
Medical subject headings
- Child Development