Impact evaluation of Centers for Childhood Development and Community-Based Monitoring on child development and health. (2026). Educationis Momentum, 11(2), 161-205. https://doi.org/10.36901/em.v11i2.1825

In Peru, the implementation of Community-Based Monitoring (CBM) programs focusing on early childhood development outcomes particularly in rural areas is a phenomenon relatively unexplored. Using home visits for improving and strengthening health care practices and interactions of positive parenting in adults with children under the age of three, the goal of the CBM program is to improve different dimensions of child development. The study uses a quasi-experimental design with children aged 6-36 months from four districts of Maynas, province in the Amazon area of Peru. Data were collected at baseline (2016) and follow-up (2017). To estimate causal effects, we used Propensity Score Matching (PSM) to construct comparable treatment and control groups, followed by a Difference-in-Differences (DiD) approach to control for time-invariant unobserved factors. Results show positive and statistically significant effects on overall early childhood development, particularly in fine motor skills and language development. The program also reduced chronic malnutrition, although no significant effects were found on acute malnutrition or morbidity indicators. Impacts were stronger in rural areas, where program implementation was more established. The study concludes that CBM programs with home visits can improve developmental outcomes and reduce inequalities, highlighting the importance of implementation quality and suggesting potential for scaling in rural contexts.