Abstract:
In Kenya, millions of children have limited access to nurturing care. With the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it is anticipated that vulnerable children will bear the biggest brunt of the direct and indirect impacts of the pandemic. This review aimed to deepen understanding of the effects of COVID-19 on nurturing care from conception to four years of age, a period where the care of children is often delivered through caregivers or other informal platforms. The review has drawn upon the empirical evidence from previous pandemics and epidemics, and anecdotal and emerging evidence from the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Multifactorial impacts fall into five key domains: direct health; health and nutrition systems; economic protection; social and child protection; and child development and early learning. The review proposes program and policy strategies to guide the reorientation of nurturing care, prevent the detrimental effects associated with deteriorating nurturing care environments, and support the optimal development of the youngest and most vulnerable children. These include the provision of cash transfers and essential supplies for vulnerable households and strengthening of community-based platforms for nurturing care. Further research on COVID-19 and the ability of children\'s ecology to provide nurturing care is needed, as is further testing of new ideas.
摘要:
在肯尼亚,数百万儿童获得养育护理的机会有限。随着2019年冠状病毒病(COVID-19)大流行,预计弱势儿童将首当其冲地受到大流行的直接和间接影响。这篇综述旨在加深对COVID-19对从受孕到四岁的养育护理的影响的理解,在这个时期,通常通过护理人员或其他非正式平台提供对儿童的照顾。该审查借鉴了以往大流行和流行病的经验证据,以及正在进行的COVID-19危机中的轶事和新出现的证据。多因素影响分为五个关键领域:直接健康;健康和营养系统;经济保护;社会和儿童保护;以及儿童发展和早期学习。审查提出了计划和政策策略,以指导养育护理的重新定位,防止与恶化的护理环境相关的有害影响,并支持最年轻和最脆弱儿童的最佳发展。这些措施包括为弱势家庭提供现金转移和基本用品,以及加强基于社区的养育护理平台。需要进一步研究COVID-19和儿童生态学提供养育护理的能力,新想法的进一步测试。