Dataset for the National Day Care Service Program Cuna Más

By Health, Nutrition and Population Division (VPS/SCL/HNP)

This dataset contains information on Cuna Más (Cuna Mas), Peru’s largest national early childhood development program, established in 2012. The program aims to improve the overall well-being, learning, and social development of young children in vulnerable communities.

The dataset focuses on one of the program’s two main services: the Servicio de Cuidado Diurno (Daycare Service). This initiative operates in marginalized urban areas, providing comprehensive care for children aged 6 to 36 months through structured daily activities, nutrition, and emotional support.

Data were collected between November 2013 and January 2014 by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to better understand the program’s impact. The study specifically examined the relationship between caregiver quality and the development of very young children (6 to 24 months), highlighting the importance of skilled early childhood professionals in improving outcomes.

The Cuna Más dataset offers valuable evidence for researchers and policymakers studying child development, education, and social inclusion in Peru and across Latin America.

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Metadata & use

Identifier https://doi.org/10.60966/gwpjax5e
License Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivs 3.0 IGO
Citation

Inter-American Development Bank (2018). Dataset for the National Day Care Service Program Cuna Más. IDB Open Data. https://doi.org/10.60966/gwpjax5e

Published date 2018-11-14
Modified date 2026-07-15
Tags/Keywords Early Childhood Development · Health · Social Protection · Young Children
Language
  1. English
Temporal coverage 2013-2014
Country
Peru
Region Latin America and the Caribbean
Publisher
Inter-American Development Bank
Author
Inter-American Development Bank
Data collection type Administrative Data
Statistical type Cross-sectional Data
Data structure Structured Data
Data notes

What is the Cuna Más program?

Cuna Más is Peru’s largest national early childhood development program, created in 2012 to improve the cognitive, emotional, and social development of children under three years old living in low-income and vulnerable communities.

What does this dataset include?

The dataset contains information collected between November 2013 and January 2014 on children, caregivers, and daycare environments in Cuna Más centers. It focuses on the Servicio de Cuidado Diurno (Daycare Service), which provides structured daily care for children aged 6 to 36 months.

What is the objective of the study?

The data were collected to analyze how caregiver quality affects the developmental outcomes of very young children enrolled in Cuna Más centers, with a particular focus on emotional, cognitive, and motor development.

Who collected and manages the dataset?

The dataset was collected by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in coordination with the Peruvian Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion (MIDIS), which administers the Cuna Más program.

What kind of variables are included in the dataset?

The dataset includes detailed variables such as:
- Child age, gender, and developmental milestones
- Caregiver education, training, and experience
- Quality of child-caregiver interactions
- Daycare center characteristics and resources
- Regional location and socioeconomic context

How was the data collected?

Data were collected through direct observation and structured surveys of caregivers and program staff. Observational tools assessed care practices, learning environments, and child developmental progress.

What years are covered by the dataset?

The Cuna Más dataset covers the baseline year 2013–2014, capturing an early snapshot of program implementation during its first national expansion phase.

What is the significance of this dataset?

This dataset provides valuable evidence to understand how early childhood interventions like Cuna Más can improve child development outcomes. It supports researchers and policymakers in evaluating care quality, training effectiveness, and program reach.

Can this dataset be compared with other Cuna Más studies?

Yes. This dataset complements other IDB datasets on Cuna Más, including those related to the Servicio de Acompañamiento a Familias (SAF), enabling cross-comparison between daycare-based and home-based early learning approaches.

How can researchers use the data?

Researchers can use the Cuna Más dataset to:
- Assess correlations between caregiver quality and child outcomes
- Study early childhood inequalities in urban and rural areas
- Support evidence-based policy design for early learning systems in Latin America