Monitoring early childhood development and maternal skin color: a focus on professional guidance for parental caregivers

• Grant number: 25/13790-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Débora Falleiros de Mello
• Grantee: Débora Falleiros de Mello
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa (Insper). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São Paulo
• Associated research grant: 19/12553-0 - Brazilian Center for Early Child Development, AP.PCPE
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/23021-0 - Monitoring early childhood development and maternal skin color: a focus on professional guidance for parental caregivers, BP.IC

Abstract

The first years of life involve rapid brain development, shaped by children's interactions and environments. Adverse experiences such as racism can negatively affect child health and caregiving, particularly for Black women, who often face microaggressions, having their concerns dismissed, and a lack of culturally sensitive care. In Brazil, early childhood development (ECD) monitoring is often incomplete, with gaps in the use of the Child Health Handbook (CHH) and educational guidance. This quantitative study examines whether maternal skin color is associated with the guidance provided by healthcare professionals on ECD to mothers of children under six months old. Data were collected through 955 interviews across 35 Primary Health Care units in a mid-sized city in São Paulo State. The hypothesis is that Black and Brown mothers receive less guidance. The study aims to inform improvements in ECD practices, promoting more equitable care and strengthening continuing education for healthcare providers. (AU)