Improving Early Detection and Intervention for Young Infants at High-Risk of Neurodevelopmental Delay and Disability in Uganda

The ABAaNA Early Intervention study will investigate whether a community-based training programme for carers of young children affected by newborn brain injury can improve the early brain development and quality of life of Ugandan children, and their families. Each year, around the world, millions of infants are at risk of delays in their developmental progress or disability as a result of newborn conditions like prematurity and lack of oxygen at birth. These newborn conditions are common in developing countries, but care for affected children is often not available. Our programme will test the effectiveness of using expert carers to run community-based training groups for families of infants with early disability from newborn brain injury. It will examine which factors are most effective in bringing about any change seen. We will also assess the challenges to scaling up the programme so that, in the future, many more children may benefit from the innovation