AUTHOR=Jäggi Lena , Hartinger Stella M. , Fink Günther , McCoy Dana C. , Alvarado Llatance Milagros , Hinckley Kristen , Ramirez-Varela Lucero , Aguilar Leonel , Castellanos Andreana , Mäusezahl Daniel 

TITLE=Parenting in the Digital Age: A Scoping Review of Digital Early Childhood Parenting Interventions in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC)

JOURNAL=Public Health Reviews

VOLUME=Volume 45 - 2024

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/public-health-reviews/articles/10.3389/phrs.2024.1607651

DOI=10.3389/phrs.2024.1607651

ISSN=2107-6952

ABSTRACT=Objectives: This scoping review examines the evidence and knowledge gaps regarding the effectiveness of digital early childhood parenting interventions in Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Methods: Using PRISMA-ScR and PICOS frameworks, we systematically reviewed studies published since 2010 from four databases, focusing on the impact of digital parenting interventions on Early Childhood Development (ECD) and parent-level outcomes. Results: Of 1,399 studies identified, 13 met inclusion criteria, evaluating digital interventions for parents of children aged 0-5 years. These interventions included digital-only and hybrid approaches, leveraging technologies for tasks such as sharing health and ECD information, reminders, group chats, or screening. Among ECD studies, three of four with parent-reported outcomes found positive effects, but none of three using direct assessments did. Parent-level outcomes, such as mental health and parenting behaviors, showed consistent positive impacts. Conclusions: Digital parenting interventions are feasible in LMICs but face challenges in implementation and reaching vulnerable families. Most studies are small-scale with variable designs and outcomes. Rigorous, high-quality studies are needed to establish effectiveness and optimize implementation strategies before these programs are deployed at scale.