Adaptation and Implementation of the Global Scales for Early Development (GSED) Tool in Ethiopia
Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recently developed the Global Scales for Early Development (GSED) tool to address the lack of a population-level metric for early childhood development globally. This paper describes learning from the first experience with the translation, adaptation,...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Children |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/3/299 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850089877100560384 |
|---|---|
| author | Kalkidan Yibeltal Atsede Teklehaimanot Firehiwot Workneh Nebiyou Fasil Sarah K. G. Jensen Theresa I. Chin Krysten North Betelhem Haymanot Alemayehu Worku Anne CC Lee Yemane Berhane |
| author_facet | Kalkidan Yibeltal Atsede Teklehaimanot Firehiwot Workneh Nebiyou Fasil Sarah K. G. Jensen Theresa I. Chin Krysten North Betelhem Haymanot Alemayehu Worku Anne CC Lee Yemane Berhane |
| author_sort | Kalkidan Yibeltal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recently developed the Global Scales for Early Development (GSED) tool to address the lack of a population-level metric for early childhood development globally. This paper describes learning from the first experience with the translation, adaptation, and implementation of the GSED tool in Ethiopia. Methods: WHO guidelines were followed to translate and adapt the GSED tool to Amharic. Two Ethiopian child health experts were trained as GSED Master Trainers. The tool was forward translated by two independent translators with previous experience in child development assessment, consensus was obtained, and the back translation was reviewed/approved by the WHO. The GSED app was programmed in Amharic and piloted for 40 children aged 6–36 months, followed by its implementation by trained study nurses in a child development study in Bahir Dar. Results: Minor adaptations were made to terminologies and certain items were rephrased in the short and long forms. Modifications were made to physical objects used in the long form to make the items culturally appropriate and familiar. Local examples were used where necessary. The tool was administered to 364 children aged 6–36 months with an average administration time of 50–60 min. Quality control assessments by master trainers showed high agreement with assessments by trained study nurses throughout the study (average agreement: 91%). This study demonstrated the high acceptability and feasibility of the GSED tools. Conclusions: Local adaptations were required to contextualize the GSED tool for the Ethiopian setting. The preliminary experience with the GSED tool in Ethiopia is positive, with high-competency trained staff and ease of administration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7ca64e7e9f4b475697dfc9eaa6721e41 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj-art-7ca64e7e9f4b475697dfc9eaa6721e412025-08-20T02:42:40ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672025-02-0112329910.3390/children12030299Adaptation and Implementation of the Global Scales for Early Development (GSED) Tool in EthiopiaKalkidan Yibeltal0Atsede Teklehaimanot1Firehiwot Workneh2Nebiyou Fasil3Sarah K. G. Jensen4Theresa I. Chin5Krysten North6Betelhem Haymanot7Alemayehu Worku8Anne CC Lee9Yemane Berhane10Department of Reproductive Health and Population, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa 1000, EthiopiaTikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa University College of Health Science, Addis Ababa 1000, EthiopiaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa 1000, EthiopiaDepartment of Global Health and Health Policy, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa 1000, EthiopiaDepartment of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USADepartment of Pediatrics, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USADepartment of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USAAddis Continental Institute of Public Health, Bahir Dar 6000, EthiopiaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa 1000, EthiopiaDepartment of Pediatrics, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USADepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa 1000, EthiopiaBackground: The World Health Organization (WHO) recently developed the Global Scales for Early Development (GSED) tool to address the lack of a population-level metric for early childhood development globally. This paper describes learning from the first experience with the translation, adaptation, and implementation of the GSED tool in Ethiopia. Methods: WHO guidelines were followed to translate and adapt the GSED tool to Amharic. Two Ethiopian child health experts were trained as GSED Master Trainers. The tool was forward translated by two independent translators with previous experience in child development assessment, consensus was obtained, and the back translation was reviewed/approved by the WHO. The GSED app was programmed in Amharic and piloted for 40 children aged 6–36 months, followed by its implementation by trained study nurses in a child development study in Bahir Dar. Results: Minor adaptations were made to terminologies and certain items were rephrased in the short and long forms. Modifications were made to physical objects used in the long form to make the items culturally appropriate and familiar. Local examples were used where necessary. The tool was administered to 364 children aged 6–36 months with an average administration time of 50–60 min. Quality control assessments by master trainers showed high agreement with assessments by trained study nurses throughout the study (average agreement: 91%). This study demonstrated the high acceptability and feasibility of the GSED tools. Conclusions: Local adaptations were required to contextualize the GSED tool for the Ethiopian setting. The preliminary experience with the GSED tool in Ethiopia is positive, with high-competency trained staff and ease of administration.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/3/299adaptationBahir Darchild developmentglobalGSEDEthiopia |
| spellingShingle | Kalkidan Yibeltal Atsede Teklehaimanot Firehiwot Workneh Nebiyou Fasil Sarah K. G. Jensen Theresa I. Chin Krysten North Betelhem Haymanot Alemayehu Worku Anne CC Lee Yemane Berhane Adaptation and Implementation of the Global Scales for Early Development (GSED) Tool in Ethiopia Children adaptation Bahir Dar child development global GSED Ethiopia |
| title | Adaptation and Implementation of the Global Scales for Early Development (GSED) Tool in Ethiopia |
| title_full | Adaptation and Implementation of the Global Scales for Early Development (GSED) Tool in Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Adaptation and Implementation of the Global Scales for Early Development (GSED) Tool in Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adaptation and Implementation of the Global Scales for Early Development (GSED) Tool in Ethiopia |
| title_short | Adaptation and Implementation of the Global Scales for Early Development (GSED) Tool in Ethiopia |
| title_sort | adaptation and implementation of the global scales for early development gsed tool in ethiopia |
| topic | adaptation Bahir Dar child development global GSED Ethiopia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/3/299 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kalkidanyibeltal adaptationandimplementationoftheglobalscalesforearlydevelopmentgsedtoolinethiopia AT atsedeteklehaimanot adaptationandimplementationoftheglobalscalesforearlydevelopmentgsedtoolinethiopia AT firehiwotworkneh adaptationandimplementationoftheglobalscalesforearlydevelopmentgsedtoolinethiopia AT nebiyoufasil adaptationandimplementationoftheglobalscalesforearlydevelopmentgsedtoolinethiopia AT sarahkgjensen adaptationandimplementationoftheglobalscalesforearlydevelopmentgsedtoolinethiopia AT theresaichin adaptationandimplementationoftheglobalscalesforearlydevelopmentgsedtoolinethiopia AT krystennorth adaptationandimplementationoftheglobalscalesforearlydevelopmentgsedtoolinethiopia AT betelhemhaymanot adaptationandimplementationoftheglobalscalesforearlydevelopmentgsedtoolinethiopia AT alemayehuworku adaptationandimplementationoftheglobalscalesforearlydevelopmentgsedtoolinethiopia AT annecclee adaptationandimplementationoftheglobalscalesforearlydevelopmentgsedtoolinethiopia AT yemaneberhane adaptationandimplementationoftheglobalscalesforearlydevelopmentgsedtoolinethiopia |