Responsive caregiving: conceptual clarity and the need for indicators

The Nurturing Care Framework provides a roadmap to the Sustainable Development Goals by promoting equity and thriving among children worldwide. 1 WHO, UNICEFNurturing care framework progress report 2018–2023: reflections and looking forward. World Health Organization, Geneva2023 Google Scholar The Framework—consisting of health, nutrition, learning opportunities, responsive caregiving, and security or safety—provides guidance for country-specific policies and programmes that reflect cultural values, human resource capacity, infrastructure, and national priorities. Indicators of these components are necessary for governments and non-governmental organisations to plan, implement, and evaluate policies and programmes to support children. 2 Requejo J Strong KL Agweyu A et al. Measuring and monitoring child health and well-being: recommendations for tracking progress with a core set of indicators in the SDG era. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2022; 6: 345-352 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (9) Google Scholar Yet, no validated indicator exists for responsive caregiving. 3 Richter LM Cappa C Issa G Lu C Petrowski N Naicker SN Data for action on early childhood development. Lancet. 2020; 396: 1784-1786 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (16) Google Scholar