CDC Kerala 1: Organization of Clinical Child Development Services (1987–2013)

• Published in: Indian journal of pediatrics Vol. 81; no. Suppl 2; pp. 66 - 72
• Main Authors: Nair, M. K. C., George, Babu, Harikumaran Nair, G. S., Bhaskaran, Deepa, Leena, M. L., Russell, Paul Swamidhas Sudhakar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Springer India 01.12.2014
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Health Services - organization & administration; Child; Child Development; Child Health Services - organization & administration; Child, Preschool; Gynecology; Humans; India; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; Pediatrics; Clinic services; Neuro-developmental follow-up; Child development; Adolescent counselling; Low birth weight
• ISSN: 0019-5456; 0973-7693
• DOI: 10.1007/s12098-014-1566-5

Objective The main objective of establishing the Child Development Centre (CDC), Kerala for piloting comprehensive child adolescent development program in India, has been to understand the conceptualization, design and scaling up of a pro-active positive child development initiative, easily replicable all over India. Methods The process of establishing the Child Development Centre (CDC) Kerala for research, clinical services, training and community extension services over the last 25 y, has been as follows; Step 1: Conceptualization –The life cycle approach to child development; Step 2: Research basis –CDC model early stimulation is effective; Step 3: Development and validation of seven simple developmental screening tools; Step 4: CDC Diagnostic services –Ultrasonology and genetic, and metabolic laboratory; Step 5: Developing seven intervention packages; Step 6: Training –Post graduate diploma in clinical child development; Step 7: CDC Clinic Services –seven major ones; Step 8: CDC Community Services –Child development referral units; Step 9: Community service delivery models –Childhood disability and for adolescent care counselling projects; Step 10: National capacity building –Four child development related courses. Results CDC Kerala follow-up and clinic services are offered till 18 y of age and premarital counselling till 24 y of age as shown in “CDC Kerala Clinic Services Flow Chart” and 74,291 children have availed CDC clinic services in the last 10 y. Conclusions CDC Kerala is the first model for comprehensive child adolescent development services using a lifecycle approach in the Government sector and hence declared as the collaborative centre for Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), in Kerala.