Equity in Economic Evaluations of Early Childhood Development Interventions in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: Scoping Review

ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine how equity is integrated into economic evaluations of early childhood development interventions in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), and to narratively synthesize the study characteristics and findings.MethodsWe conducted a scoping review by searching three electronic databases with terms including equity, early childhood development intervention, economic evaluation, and LMICs. Interventions that aimed to improve child cognitive, physical, language, motor, or social and emotional development through health, nutrition, security and safety, responsive caregiving, and early learning interventions between conception and age 8 years were considered. Studies published in English peer-reviewed journals in the year 2000 and later were included.ResultsThe review included 24 cost-effectiveness studies out of 1460 identified articles based on eligibility criteria. The included studies addressed health, nutrition, social protection, and water, sanitation and hygiene interventions for child development. The common type of intervention was immunization. Mostly, equity was measured using household wealth or geographic areas, and the study findings were presented through subgroup analyses. The study settings were LMICs, but most studies were conducted by research teams from high-income countries. Overall, 63% of included studies reported that early childhood development interventions improved equity with greater intervention benefits observed in disadvantaged groups.ConclusionsConsideration of equity in evaluations of early childhood interventions provides a more complete picture of cost-effectiveness, and can improve equity. Greater focus on promoting equity consideration, multi-sectoral interventions, and researchers in LMICs would support evidence-based interventions and policies to achieve equity in child development. SignificanceThe review found that existing studies mostly measured equity by wealth groups or geographic areas, and presented their findings through subgroup analyses. The most common type of intervention was childhood immunization. The study settings were LMICs, but most studies were conducted by research teams from high-income countries. More than half of studies reported that early childhood development interventions improved equity with greater intervention benefits observed in disadvantaged groups.The small number of relevant studies in the review highlights that more emphasis on equity integration into economic evaluation, coordinated work across multiple sectors, and strong involvement of researchers based in LMICs, are necessary to improve child development.