A REVIEW OF EARLY CHILDHOOD IN SOUTH AFRICA: THE EFFECTS ON MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH

Abstract

Human development and the growth of strong societies are based on early childhood. Over 250 million children under the age of 5 years are not reaching their developmental potential in low-middle income countries due to adversities such as poverty, malnutrition, and infectious disease in pregnant women and children. The South African National Integrated Early Childhood development policy (2015) aims to invest in early childhood develop and is considered an effective long term strategy for poverty eradication and to address poor early childhood development. This essay focuses on maternal health and early childhood development in South Africa.

Keywords: Early childhood development; maternal health and well-being nutrition; early stimulation and responsive caregiving; parenting.