The full title of the project is "Music for health and wellbeing in Early Childhood Community Service at the National Referral Hospital in Bhutan: an exploratory study."
The study aims to investigate the potential of music as a health resource in caregiver-child relationships and in childhood services in Bhutan. Parenting interventions for children during the first three years of life are effective for improving early childhood development outcomes and enhancing parenting outcomes. Music as a resource in early child development intervention is well documented but seems unexplored in Bhutan.
This study will explore:
- How music is practised in caregiver–child relationships today in Bhutan
- The process of developing a context-sensitive music program
- How a pilot-music-program can be facilitated at a local health clinic and experienced by caregivers who participate with their children (aged three month – 1 year) for 10- 12 weeks.
Data will be collected through three stages using qualitative methods: individual semi-structured interviews, participant observation and focus-group interviews. Participants in the study will be local musicians, nurses working at the health clinic and caregivers.
The hypothesis underlying the research is that using music in early intervention will enhance children's and caregivers' well-being and quality of life. The knowledge and voices of the participants in this project will hopefully lead to a broader understanding and new dimensions in the field of 'music and health' and 'early childhood development' in Bhutan.
The project is financed by Progreso Foundation.
