Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42507661›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Socioeconomic disparities in children's neurodevelopment before and during primary education: Evidence from Bagamoyo, Tanzania.

Msilikale Walter Manyiri, Georg Loss, Susanne P Martin-Herz, Deborah Sumari, Nicolaus Gutapaka, Thabit Athuman, Sylvester Simando, Sylvia Jebiwott, Xue Wu, Karim Manji and 3 more

Abstract read
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Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Msilikale Walter ManyiriHousehold Economics and Health System Research Unit, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, Allschwil, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9679-5893
Georg LossHousehold Economics and Health System Research Unit, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, Allschwil, Switzerland.
Susanne P Martin-HerzDivision of Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, United States of America.
Deborah SumariBiomedical Research and Clinical Trials Department, Ifakara Health Institute, Mikocheni, Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8119-0202
Nicolaus GutapakaBiomedical Research and Clinical Trials Department, Ifakara Health Institute, Mikocheni, Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Thabit AthumanBiomedical Research and Clinical Trials Department, Ifakara Health Institute, Mikocheni, Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Sylvester SimandoBiomedical Research and Clinical Trials Department, Ifakara Health Institute, Mikocheni, Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Sylvia JebiwottMalaria Elimination Initiative, Institute of Global Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America.
Xue WuMalaria Elimination Initiative, Institute of Global Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America.
Karim ManjiDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Upanga, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7069-6408
Ally OlotuBiomedical Research and Clinical Trials Department, Ifakara Health Institute, Mikocheni, Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Michelle S HsiangMalaria Elimination Initiative, Institute of Global Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America.
Günther FinkHousehold Economics and Health System Research Unit, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, Allschwil, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7525-3668

Funding

Long-term health and socioeconomic impact of interventions targeting low-density malaria infection (LMI) among children in TanzaniavU01AI155315 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · PI Michelle Sang Hsiang · 2022 to 2026
$5.4M
NIAID NIH HHS U01 AI155315
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSocioeconomic disparities in children's neurodevelopment constitute a critical yet understudied developmental challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), yet longitudinal evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between household wealth and neurocognitive trajectories in a cohort of Tanzanian children aged 6 months to 10 years.

methodsWe randomly selected 590 children aged 6 months to 10 years in Bagamoyo district, a low to moderate-malaria-endemic area in Tanzania. Participants completed comprehensive, age-appropriate neurodevelopmental assessments. The family's socioeconomic status was derived from their household assets. Standardized, age-adjusted neurodevelopmental scores were regressed on socioeconomic status tertiles and by developmental periods: early childhood (6 months-3 years), preschool (4-5 years), and school age (6-10 years).

resultsWhile children from high- and low-Socioeconomic status (SES) families start with similar neurodevelopmental scores, a significant and sustained gap begins to emerge around age 2 years. This divergence results in a substantial disadvantage for children from the poorest households, with scores showing a difference of -0.36 Standard Deviation (SD) (95% CI: -0.64 to -0.08) during the preschool years and -0.41 SD (95% CI: -0.73 to -0.09) at school age.

conclusionOur results suggest that programs targeting the preschool period may be most effective in mitigating disparities in neurodevelopment.

Indexed as

Child DevelopmentNeurodevelopmentChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantLow Socioeconomic StatusMaleSocial ClassSocioeconomic Disparities in HealthSocioeconomic FactorsTanzania

Identifiers

PMID42507661
PMCPMC13405314

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.