99 Session 9
Advancing Comprehensive Early Childhood Intervention Symposia S9.04 Sensory and Developmental Screening Using mHealth Technologies: Improving Access to Care Symposium Organizer: Maria du Toit (South Africa)
Affiliation : Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa Children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face significant risks of developmental delays and sensory impairments. mHealth technologies offer scalable, cost-effective solutions for early detection and intervention. This symposium explores the implementation and outcomes of mHealth-supported programs addressing these challenges. Various methodological approaches were employed to offer a suite of services, including screening and developmental support. Two studies demonstrated the feasibility of combined mHealth screening for development, hearing, and vision in low-income communities, facilitated by community health workers and early childhood development (ECD) practitioners. Community healthcare workers and ECD practitioners screening 195 children (from 4-6 years), developmental delays showed the highest referral rates (30% and 47.7% respectively), followed by vision (5% and 14.4%) and hearing (6% and 10.6%). Average screening time was under 12 minutes, with strong associations observed between sensory deficits and developmental domains. Two studies highlighted the effectiveness of mHealth training interventions for 1,012 ECD practitioners across 31 communities. Delivered via WhatsApp, one program significantly improved knowledge and perceptions of hearing health, with sustained outcomes 6 months post-training. Content analysis revealed enhanced practical application, advocacy, and support for hearing-related challenges in classrooms. Lastly, another study that provided training using an ECD practitioner manual with mHealth developmental screening equipped educators to recognize developmental concerns, implement targeted activities, and collaborate with caregivers to support their children. Early feedback emphasized the value of these resources, with ongoing evaluation underway. These initiatives illustrate the potential of mHealth to enable ECD practitioners, improve developmental outcomes, and address disparities in LMICs, advancing access to care for young children. Contributing Papers Combined Screening of Early Childhood Development, Hearing, and Vision by Community Health Workers Using mHealth Tools in a Low-Income Community Presenting Author: Renata Eccles (South Africa) Affiliation: Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa mHealth-Based Developmental and Dual-Sensory Screening Outcomes of Children in a Low-Income Community Presenting Author: Maria du Toit (South Africa) Affiliation: Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa mHealth-Supported Hearing Health Training for Early Childhood Development Practitioners: An Intervention Study Presenting Author: Faheema Mahomed-Asmail (South Africa) Affiliation: Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa Supporting Community Stakeholders in Low-Income Communities: An Early Childhood Development Perspective Presenting Author: Jeannie van der Linde (South Africa) Affiliation: Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa
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