Indexing
CÁC SỐ TỪ 2011-2023
Tạp chí Y Dược Học
Abstract
Introduction: Early Childhood Development (ECD) is a key determinant of long-term health and human capital. In Vietnam, rapid socioeconomic changes necessitate updated national evidence on children’s developmental status and its determinants. This study aimed to compare developmental status among children aged 36 - 59 months and examine associated factors using two rounds of the Vietnam Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS 2013 - 2014 and 2020 - 2021).
Methods: This study analyzed two nationally representative datasets derived from the Vietnam MICS 2013 - 2014 (n = 1,035) and 2020 - 2021 (n = 1,893). ECD was measured using the Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI/ECDI2030). Analyses accounted for the complex survey design, and multivariable logistic regression was performed separately for each survey.
Results: The proportion of children classified as developmentally on track was lower in 2020 - 2021 than in 2013 - 2014 (76.5% vs. 89.8%), although direct comparison should be interpreted cautiously because different assessment tools were used. Across both surveys, Kinh ethnicity, higher maternal education, and participation in early childhood education programs were consistently associated with higher odds of being developmentally on track. Household wealth emerged as a significant determinant only in 2020 - 2021, when children from poorer households had lower odds of being on track. Children not exposed to violent discipline were more likely to be developmentally on track in 2020 - 2021 (AOR = 1.50, 95%CI: 1.04 - 2.13), whereas no significant association was observed in 2013 - 2014.
Conclusion: Compared with the MICS 2013 - 2014 survey, early childhood developmental outcomes appeared lower in the MICS 2020 - 2021 survey, although this difference was likely influenced by the adoption of the more stringent ECDI2030 assessment tool. Socioeconomic and ethnic disparities in developmental outcomes remained evident. Persistent socioeconomic and ethnic inequalities, together with the positive role of early childhood education, highlight the need for equitable access to quality early childhood services and supportive caregiving environments.
| Published | 2026-08-25 | |
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| Issue | Vol. 16 No. 04 (2026) | |
| Section | Original Articles | |
| DOI | 10.34071/jmp.2026.4.1073 | |
| Keywords | Early Childhood Development, ECDI, MICS,, socioeconomic factors |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Hue Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy
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