This presentation will introduce the concept of ‘the next 1000 days’ (2-5 years) which was the focus of a recent series on early childhood development in The Lancet, led by Dr Draper. She will then outline her research in this age group in low-income South African communities, including both measurement and implementation science. This includes work on executive function and early learning, as well as the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative Bukhali trial, and Mazi Umntanakho (‘know your child’), a digital tool for social emotional development and mental health of 3-5y children.
About Dr Catherine Draper
Dr Catherine Draper is an Associate Professor in the SAMRC Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. She has a background in psychology, public health, and qualitative research. Dr Draper’s research interests include the development and evaluation of community-based interventions, and she is particularly interested in early childhood health and development. She led the 2023 Lancet series on early childhood development and the next 1,000 days.
Dr Draper is currently leading an intervention study on social emotional development and mental health in young children in vulnerable settings in South Africa. She also works on the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) where she leads the early childhood and implementation science components of the HeLTI South Africa Bukhali trial.