Table 1

Summary of effectiveness (intervention effect that is, Cohen’s d effect estimates; 95% uncertainty ranges given in parentheses) and estimated cost (in total and per child targeted) for each intervention that promotes ECD included in this study

StudyCountryIntervention costLMIC standardised cost*Intervention effect
TotalPer childPer childDomainEstimate
Aboud and Akhter, 201142Bangladesh, 2008$13 151$69$99Cognitive0.40 (0.10 to 0.69)†
Aboud et al, 201331Bangladesh, 2011$6$41Cognitive0.67 (0.48 to 0.86)†
 Group sessions Expressive language0.97 (0.82 to 1.21)†
  Receptive language0.85 (0.64 to 1.03)†
Aboud et al, 201331Bangladesh, 2011$1$24Cognitive0.67 (0.48 to 0.86)†
 Home visits Expressive language0.97 (0.82 to 1.21)†
  Receptive language0.85 (0.64 to 1.03)†
Boivin et al, 201343Uganda, 2012‡$39 617$660$992Cognitive0.03 (−0.33 to 0.40)
  Expressive language0.39 (0.02 to 0.75)†
  Fine motor0.11 (−0.25 to 0.47)
  Receptive language0.44 (0.07 to 0.81)†
Carlo et al, 200344India, Pakistan$20 487$347$1256Cognitive (non-resuscitated)0.23 (−0.07 to 0.53)
 Zambia, 2007–2011Cognitive (resuscitated)0.37 (0.01 to 0.72)†
Eickmann et al 200345Brazil, 1999$16 636$252$228Cognitive0.81 (0.46 to 1.16)†
Gardner et al, 200546Jamaica, 2004‡$38 333$782$1282Cognitive0.32 (−0.05 to 0.70)
  Fine motor0.16 (−0.22 to 0.53)
  Language0.55 (0.16 to 0.93)†
Hamadani et al 200634Bangladesh, 2000–2002$16 801$183$1357Cognitive0.33 (0.04 to 0.61)†
Jin et al, 200747China, 2003$828$17$62Cognitive0.48 (0.06 to 0.91)†
  Language0.51 (0.08 to 0.94)†
Lozoff et al, 201033Chile,1991–1995$167 228$2172$3519Cognitive (iron-deficient)1.80 (1.21 to 2.18)†
  Cognitive (non-iron-deficient)−0.41 (−0.82 to 0.00)
Nahar et al, 200948Bangladesh, 2008‡$3324$101$582Cognitive0.84 (0.35 to 1.33)†
Nair et al, 200949India, 2008‡$1690$5$18Cognitive0.21 (0.06 to 0.35)†
Powell et al, 200450Jamaica, 2003‡$50 753$781$1290Cognitive0.87 (0.87 to 1.23)†
  Fine motor0.71 (0.35 to 1.07)†
  Language0.77 (0.41 to 1.13)†
Vazir et al, 201351India, 2012‡$22 534$147$418Cognitive0.36 (0.14 to 0.57)†
Walker et al, 200452Jamaica, 2003‡$28 218$448$735Cognitive0.42 (0.07 to 0.77)†
  Language0.00 (−0.34 to 0.34)
Yousafzai et al, 2014§32Pakistan, 2009–2012$48 816$134$134Cognitive0.60 (0.45 to 0.76)†
  Language0.70 (0.45 to 0.75)†

  • *Hypothetical cost of interventions if conducted in a typical LMIC in 2010 (uses the average gross domestic product per capita for LMICs in the year 2010 (US$3549) as the wage reference point). Workforce costs were modified; however, additional input costs (ie, books, toys etc.) were not, as the estimates used were already standardised across interventions.

  • †Statistically significant.

  • ‡Study year not explicitly stated; using year prior to article publication.

  • §Cost inputs extracted from the linked study by Gowani et al.53

  • ECD, early childhood development; LMIC, low-income and middle-income country; RCT, randomised controlled trial.