Table 5 Main evidence gaps, categorized by domains, concerning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early childhood development

Health and Development

1.Global and regional robust and current estimates of the added morbidity and mortality burden of COVID-19 and communicable and non-communicable diseases, especially in LMICs undergoing humanitarian crisis

2.Up to date global and regional robust estimates on the state of the Sustainable Development Goals achievement, and their direct impact on ECD

3.Up to date consistent global and regional estimates of immunization delays

4.Impact of tele/virtual healthcare on ECD- stratified by presence of neurodevelopmental disorders and/or chronic illnesses, socioeconomic status

5.Level of access and quality of mental health care services, stratified by socioeconomic status, country/sub-regions

6.Impact on education: quality and pedagogical milestones, stratified by gender, ethnicity, and family socioeconomic status

7.Cross-cultural and country-specific impact on socioemotional development, based on longitudinal data, stratified by family socioeconomic status, gender, age, ethnicity

8.Differential impact on health status and developmental milestones concerning children with neurodevelopmental disorders and/or chronic illnesses

Relational

1.Harsh parenting / abusive parental behavior- overall prevalence, as well as magnitude and significance of change, reported by subtype: psychological, physical, sexual. Stratified by socioeconomic status and country/sub-regions

2.Added impact of bereavement, stratified by levels of support, access to mental health services, family socioeconomic status, caregivers’ mental health status

3.Overall estimates of incidence and impact of orphanhood on the health and development of children, stratified by family socioeconomic status, presence of secondary or tertiary caregivers, institutional resources, children’s rights policies

Demographic

1.Cross-cultural and culture-specific differential impact concerning gender and ethnicity on developmental milestones and educational gaps, stratified by socioeconomic status

Economic

1.Impact of food insecurity: prevalence as well as magnitude and significance of change, stratified by country, sub-regions, and type concerning quantity and quality of household dietary patterns

2.Impact of financial strain on family health insurance: prevalence as well as magnitude and significance of change, stratified by country and sub-regions, as well as family socioeconomic strata, levels of access to health services, quality of health services

Neighborhood

1.Association of ECD and living conditions: (1) distal: city and neighborhood infrastructure or deprivation; (2) proximal: community safety and security, housing structure, overcrowding, WASH conditions, access to recreational activities, schools, daycare centers, urban parks

Environmental

1.Interaction between the pandemic and environmental events, such as: (1) natural disasters; (2) industrial disasters; (3) war and conflict; (4) climate change; (5) forced migration; (6) trauma and violence

Social and Cultural

1.Cross-cultural and culture-specific relationship between ECD and: (1) community social capital; (2) social stability