Digital support systems to improve child development in Peru: A cluster-randomized controlled open label trial

Digital technologies have the potential to transform early childhood
development (ECD) interventions by delivering personalized support at
scale. We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial in rural Peru to
evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an AI-supported
digital parenting chatbot as well as traditional home visits as
interventions to improve child development. Among 2,461 caregiver-child
dyads, both the digital and home-visiting interventions improved child
development outcomes at 2.5 years of age, with standardized effect sizes
of 0.11 and 0.17, respectively. At one-fifteenth the cost of in-person
support, the digital intervention yielded superior cost-effectiveness.
These findings suggest digital platforms can be a viable, scalable
alternative to support children’s development in resource-constrained
settings.