Focusing on the realities of early childhood development in South Africa and other resource-constrained settings, Early childhood development and intervention in a majority world context: A multi-disciplinary perspective brings together interdisciplinary scholarship that responds to the urgent need for locally grounded evidence and contextually relevant interventions. As the third volume in the Human Functioning, Technology and Health Book Series, the book presents contributions from researchers across the health, education and social sciences, offering new insights into the complex factors shaping the well-being and development of young children and their families. The volume examines the realities influencing child development in the early years, including poverty, prenatal exposure to harmful substances, HIV, unequal access to services and broader social and cultural influences on health and education. Across a wide range of themes — from maternal mental health, nutrition and feeding, to language development, hearing, play, motor development and education — the contributors demonstrate how context-sensitive interventions can improve developmental outcomes and advance equitable access to care and support. A distinctive strength of this volume lies in its Afrocentric and evidence-based approach. Much of the existing literature on early childhood development originates in resource-rich, minority-world settings, whereas this collection foregrounds research conducted largely in the Western Cape province and other South African contexts. By documenting the lived realities of local populations, including children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders, premature infants and children living with HIV, the book expands current knowledge while addressing gaps rarely explored in previous scholarship. The volume also highlights innovative service-delivery models and community-based interventions designed to overcome barriers to health and educational services. In doing so, it provides valuable insights for scholars, clinicians, researchers, practitioners, policymakers and postgraduate students seeking to strengthen early childhood development systems and promote socially responsive, contextually relevant child development practices. Rich in interdisciplinary insight and grounded in local realities, this book makes an important contribution to the growing body of research aimed at improving developmental outcomes for vulnerable children in South Africa and beyond.

This book is included in DOAB.