Families’ Knowledge and Attitudes about Early Childhood Care and Development

Highlights

Early Childhood Development (ECD) refers to the first years of life (0-6 years), a period of time characterized by the formation of cognitive, social and emotional foundations that will leave a lifelong mark. The extent and comprehensiveness of the family’s preparedness for ensuring the care and development of the child at this early age is critical. This study assesses the change over time in the main areas of ECD in terms of early child development, improved parenting skills, particularly child feeding and hygiene, early recognition/identification of danger signs and appropriate behavior in case of illness, and cognitive and intellectual stimulation of children.

Methodology

This study is based on data from a survey based on a nationally representative sample (excluding the left bank of the Nistru river) of households with children aged 0-6 years, conducted through face-to-face interviews with the main caregiver in the household. The sample included 1,236 respondents (excluding the left bank) interviewed between 17 March and 27 July 2023. The 2023 survey exactly replicates the sample and data collection method of similar surveys conducted in 2009 and 2018, allowing for comparative analyses of the data.

The study “Families’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in Early Childhood Care and Development” was conducted by the Center for Sociological Research and Marketing “CBS-AXA” for UNICEF Moldova.

Author: Vasile Cantarji, Veaceslav Bătrînescu, Natalia Vladescu, Patricia Vieru.