Parent-mediated intervention training for caregivers of children with developmental differences in Zambia

Abstract

Background: Lower- and middle-income countries (LAMICs) are under-resourced and have limited intervention services for children with developmental differences and their families. A logical method to address service gaps within resource-scarce contexts is to train caregivers as interventionists, specifically using empirically-supported parent-mediated Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (P-M NDBIs; Kasari et al., 2010; Ingersoll & Wainer, 2013).

Aims: The study implemented the first P-M NDBI in Zambia and aimed to train caregivers and improve children's social-communication skills.

Methods/procedures: The current study utilized a mixed-methods, pre-post design and implemented Project ImPACT (Ingersoll & Dvortcsak, 2010, 2019). Participants included 19 Zambian caregivers of children (n = 20) with developmental differences including autism spectrum condition, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy.

Outcomes/results: Findings indicated that children's language skills and pretend play skills significantly improved from pre- to post-assessment, and caregivers most frequently used intervention strategies for modeling communication and prompting communication.

Conclusions/implications: The success and feasibility of implementing Project ImPACT in Zambia, and recommendations for culturally adapting and implementing P-M NDBIs in LAMICs, were discussed.

Keywords: Autism spectrum condition; Developmental disabilities; Low resource contexts; Low- and middle-income countries; Parent training; Zambia.