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Integrating early childhood and transitions to adulthood: A life course-based investment framework for children in low and middle-income countries

Fatima Zahra, Population Council
Karen Austrian, Population Council - Kenya
Thoai Ngo, Population Council

Programs and policies that focus on delaying harmful transitions among adolescents in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) have rightly gained support in recent years. Yet, these transitions are not disconnected from adolescents’ experiences in early childhood. In this paper, we propose a new conceptual framework that connects early childhood (0-8) to younger (10-14) and older (15-19) adolescence through a critical investment lens. Using three relationships that link early childhood and adolescence, we identify critical early childhood investments that may help amplify existing policy and program goals for adolescent investment. These relationships include: 1) early childhood nutrition and adolescent educational outcomes, 2) early experiences of violence/adversity and adolescent sexual behavior and mental health, and 3) timing of school enrollment, adolescent gender norms, and early transitions into marriage and pregnancy. We also take a gender and equity approach to discuss investments, to demonstrate where programs and policies would be better targeted.

Keywords: Children and youth, Policy, Gender, Theory

See extended abstract.

  Presented in Session 116. Inequalities, Health and Wellbeing