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Correlates of participation in community-based interventions: Evidence from a parenting program in rural China

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  • Yiwei Qian
  • Yi Ming Zheng
  • Sarah-Eve Dill
  • Scott Rozelle

Abstract

A growing body of literature has documented that community-based early childhood development (ECD) interventions can improve child developmental outcomes in vulnerable communities. One critical element of effective community-based programs is consistent program participation. However, little is known about participation in community-based ECD interventions or factors that may affect participation. This paper examines factors linked to program participation within a community-based ECD program serving 819 infants and their caregivers in 50 rural villages in northwestern China. The results find that more than half of families did not regularly attend the ECD program. Both village-level social ties within the program and proximity to the program significantly predict program participation. Increased distance from the program site is linked with decreased individual program participation, while the number of social ties is positively correlated with participation. The average program participation rates among a family’s social ties is also positively correlated with individual participation, indicating strong peer effects. Taken together, our findings suggest that attention should be given to promoting social interactions and reducing geographic barriers among households in order to raise participation in community-based ECD programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Yiwei Qian & Yi Ming Zheng & Sarah-Eve Dill & Scott Rozelle, 2020. "Correlates of participation in community-based interventions: Evidence from a parenting program in rural China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(9), pages 1-19, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0238841
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238841
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    Cited by:

    1. Rui Li & Nathan Rose & Yi Ming Zheng & Yunwei Chen & Sean Sylvia & Henry Wilson-Smith & Alexis Medina & Sarah-Eve Dill & Scott Rozelle, 2021. "Early Childhood Reading in Rural China and Obstacles to Caregiver Investment in Young Children: A Mixed-Methods Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-27, February.
    2. Runjia Zhang & Zheng Zhang & Ao Liu & Yangxinyu Yan & Chuantao Zhou & Xintian Hong & Yizhang Xia & Zhaoyang Xie & Yuanyuan Wang, 2026. "Parentification as a Bridge Between Childhood Family Poverty and Time Poverty Among Chinese University Students: A Conservation of Resources Perspective," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 21(2), pages 695-728, April.
    3. Ana Ramos & Filomena Matos & Hélia Soares, 2022. "Parenting Programme Structure, Potential Barriers, and Facilitators: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-13, October.

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