https://doi.org/10.37955/cs.v8i2.343
Received Febrary 24, 2023/ Approved March, 2, 2023 Pages: 18-27
eISSN: 2600-5743
Community Strategy for
Comprehensive Child Development
in the Batallón del Suburbio
community
Estrategia Comunitaria para el Desarrollo Infantil
Integral en la comunidad Batallón del Suburbio
Martha María Fernández Rodríguez
Msc., Instituto Superior Tecnológico Espíritu Santo, con condición de Universitario,
mmfernandez@tes.edu.ec, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4765-7419
José Abreu Fernández
Msc., Instituto Superior Tecnológico Espíritu Santo, con condición de Universitario.,
jabreufernandez@tes.edu.ec https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8737-3832
Fergie Palma Cedeño
Msc., Instituto Superior Tecnológico Espíritu Santo, con condición de Universitario.
fepalma@tes.edu.ec, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5152-9495
Yolanda Osorio
Msc., Instituto Superior Tecnológico Espíritu Santo, con condición de Universitario.,
yosorio@tes.edu.ec, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2883-3496
ABSTRACT
The Community Strategy for Comprehensive Child Development was
presented in the Batallón del Suburbio community, which responded
to a result of the research-linkage project with society “Influence of the
Batallón del Suburbio community in the South of Guayaquil, on
Comprehensive Child Development of children from 0 to 5 years old”,
implemented by the Comprehensive Child Development program of
the Higher University Technological Institute (TES). The objective of
the article was the modeling of the Strategy that considers how
Centro Sur Vol. 8 No. 2- April – June - Revista Centro Sur - eISSN: 2600-5743
19
Received Febrary 24, 2023/ Approved March, 2, 2023 Pages: 18-27
eISSN: 2600-5743
Centro Sur Vol. 8 No. 1 – April – June
external factors influence the comprehensive childhood development
of children in disadvantaged community contexts. The focus of the
research was the Systemic Structural Functional. The research is
qualitative in nature, aided by the modeling method and the systemic-
structural-functional methodological tool used to develop the strategy,
specifically, in the conception of its structure and operation, which
constitutes the main result of the research. Once the strategy is
modeled, it will serve as support for its application in the context of
the Suburbio Battalion. Theoretical methods were used such as
analysis and synthesis, from the abstract to the concrete and the
functional structural systemic method. In addition, the empirical
method document review.
RESUMEN
Se presentó la Estrategia Comunitaria para el Desarrollo Infantil
Integral en la comunidad Batallón del Suburbio, que respondió a un
resultado del proyecto de investigación-vinculación con la sociedad
“Influencia de la comunidad Batallón del Suburbio en el Sur de
Guayaquil, en el Desarrollo Infantil Integral de los niños de 0 a 5 años”,
implementado por la carrera Desarrollo Infantil Integral del Instituto
Superior Tecnológico Universitario (TES). El objetivo del artículo fue
la modelación de la Estrategia que considere como los factores
externos influyen en el desarrollo infantil integral de los niños en
contextos comunitarios desfavorecidos. El Enfoque de la investigación
fue el Sistémico Estructural Funcional. La investigación es de tipo
cualitativo auxiliada del método de la modelación y de la herramienta
metodológica sistémico estructural funcional que se emplea para la
elaboración dela estrategia, específicamente, en la concepción de su
estructura y funcionamiento que constituye el principal resultado de
la investigación. Una vez modelada la estrategia la misma servirá de
soporte para su aplicación en el contexto de Batallón del Suburbio. Se
emplearon métodos teóricos como, el análisis y síntesis, de los
abstracto a lo concreto y el método sistémico estructural funcional.
Además, del método empírico revisión de documentos.
Keywords / Palabras clave
Community Strategy; Child Development; context, family, home
environment
Estrategia Comunitaria; Desarrollo Infantil; contexto, familia, entorno
familiar
20
Received Febrary 24, 2023/ Approved March, 2, 2023 Pages: 18-27
eISSN: 2600-5743
Centro Sur Vol. 8 No. 1 – April – June
Introduction
The article responds to the research project - link with society
"Influence of the Batallón del Suburbio community in the South of
Guayaquil, in the Integral Child Development of children from 0 to 5
years old", implemented by the career Integral Child Development of
the Instituto Superior Tecnológico Universitario Espíritu Santo (TES).
The application of a Community Strategy for the Integral Child
Development in the community Batallón del Suburbio is presented.
The objective of the article is the modeling of the Strategy that
considers how external factors influence the integral child
development of children in disadvantaged community contexts and
thus contribute to the Integral Child Development of children from 0
to 5 years old in the Batallón del Suburbio community, favoring their
growth in adequate family contexts from an intercultural and
contextualized approach.
Every process requires an investigative approach, in this case for the
community strategy the system approach will be considered, aided by
modeling, in this case the stages and actions that are part of it will be
considered. The methodological theoretical reference is the System
Theory proposed by Fuentes, (1999) who considers the system as:
A set of objects (processes) related to each other by some form of
interaction, which identifies them with certain independence and
coherence, where objects or processes acquire the meaning of
component elements, and their relationships determine the meaning
around which these are integrated, while the component elements give
meaning to the system. The determination of the system reveals the
relationships between the component elements and the behavior of the
whole (Fuentes González, 1999).
The Functional Structural Systemic Approach serves as a complement
to work the General Theory of System, this methodological tool
facilitates the modeling of objects. This article assumes the criterion
contributed by Álvarez de Zayas, (1995), for whom:
A methodological orientation in science (...). When used as a method
in research "(...) it is aimed at modeling the object by determining its
components, as well as the relationships between them, which form a
new quality as a whole. These relationships determine, on the one
21
Received Febrary 24, 2023/ Approved March, 2, 2023 Pages: 18-27
eISSN: 2600-5743
Centro Sur Vol. 8 No. 1 – April – June
hand, the structure and hierarchy of each component in the object and,
on the other, its dynamics, its functioning. (Álvarez de Zayas, 1995).
From this point of view, systems are considered to have a structure and
functioning. According to Fuentes 1999, the structure refers to the set
of elements that can be identified by means of significance
relationships within the limits established by the system; these
relationships determine an organization and provide coherence to the
components. (Fuentes González, 1999).
Also, from the theoretical point of view, we assume as strategy the
contributions of Addine (2006) who defines it as: "...more or less
extensive and complex integrating sequences of selected and
organized actions and procedures that attend to all the components of
the process, aiming at achieving the proposed educational goals..."
(Addine Fernández, 2006, p. 87).
Considering that a strategy for Comprehensive Child Development is
approached, the definition that refers to is assumed:
A process of continuous changes through which children go through
from their conception that, under normal conditions, guarantee
growth, maturation and the progressive acquisition of complex human
functions such as speech, writing, thinking, affections, creativity. It is
a multifactorial process influenced by internal (biological) and
external aspects, and in which multiple actors intervene. This is why
development depends on the quality of the social, economic and
cultural conditions in which children are born, grow up and live, on
the opportunities that the environment offers them and on the
effective guarantee of rights by the State and society (MIES-INFA.,
2011).
Assuming this contentment will allow to approach "Child
Development from an integral conception and where the context and
the influence of the family are basic to achieve it" (Fernández-
Rodríguez, 2021, p. 123).
In this same order of ideas, the contributions of Fernández Rodríguez
(2021) are considered as theoretical foundations of the community
strategy in relation to the internal and external factors that influence
Comprehensive Child Development in a community context. Among
the external factors he highlights: Guarantee of State rights, Cultural
development, Community social development, Opportunity of the
environment and the economic situation. In relation to internal
22
Received Febrary 24, 2023/ Approved March, 2, 2023 Pages: 18-27
eISSN: 2600-5743
Centro Sur Vol. 8 No. 1 – April – June
factors, it mentions: Physical Development, Cognitive Development,
Psychosocial Development, Language Development and Nutritional
Biological Development (p. 123).
Materials and Methods
The research approach was the Functional Structural Systemic
Approach. The research is of qualitative type aided by the modeling
method and the functional structural systemic methodological tool
used for the elaboration of the strategy, specifically, in the conception
of its structure and operation, which constitutes the main result of the
research. Once the strategy has been modeled, it will serve as a support
for its application in the context of Batallón del Suburbio.
Theoretical methods were used, such as analysis and synthesis, from
the abstract to the concrete and the functional structural systemic
method. In addition, the empirical method of document review was
used.
The modeling of the strategy is part of the research project "Influence
of the Batallón del Suburbio community in the South of Guayaquil, in
the Integral Child Development of children from 0 to 5 years old",
implemented by the Integral Child Development career of TES.
Results
The strategy consisted of three phases
Phase 1 Diagnosis
Objective: Determine the factors that limit the development of
children from 0 to 5 years of age in the Batallón del Suburbio
community in southern Guayaquil.
Actions
1. Elaborate a census in the community to determine the population
under study.
2. Diagnose the limiting factors in the integral child development in
the context of the Batallón del Suburbio community.
3. Assemble groups of children according to age to apply the actions of
the strategy.
23
Received Febrary 24, 2023/ Approved March, 2, 2023 Pages: 18-27
eISSN: 2600-5743
Centro Sur Vol. 8 No. 1 – April – June
For the development of action 1, it is suggested to elaborate a census
through the survey technique and as an instrument the questionnaire
containing 69 questions that will cover the categories indicated below.
Category
§ Rented housing tenure
§ Own housing tenure
§ Borrowed or relative's housing ownership
§ Wages more than $400 per month
§ Salary less than $400 per month
§ Use of sewage services
§ Use of water services
§ Use of electricity service
§ Use of gas service
§ Use of telephone service
§ Use of waste collection service
§ Prevailing marital status Unmarried
§ Affected by 'the COVID pandemic
§ Problems during pregnancy
§ Lack of pediatric prevention
§ Lack of evidence of immunization control
§ Natural childbirth
§ Cesarean birth
§ Complications at birth
§ Less than 6 hours of sleep
§ Frequent meat consumption
§ Frequent vegetable consumption
§ Frequent vegetable consumption
§ Children of short stature
§ Underweight children
§ Children with some type of disease
§ Frequency of attendance at public health centers
§ Frequency of attendance at private health centers
§ Visits to health centers for prevention
§ Attendance at health centers for urgencies or emergencies
§ Children with disabilities
§ Children currently studying
§ Attendance at private educational institutions
§ Attendance at public educational institutions
§ Attendance at virtual educational institutions
§ Attendance at educational institutions in person
24
Received Febrary 24, 2023/ Approved March, 2, 2023 Pages: 18-27
eISSN: 2600-5743
Centro Sur Vol. 8 No. 1 – April – June
§ Attendance at virtual educational institutions with phone, tablet
devices
§ Frequently involved in their child's learning
§ The mother is responsible for the educational activities of her
children.
§ Would be a participant in a school accompaniment course
§ Knows what early stimulation is
§ Her child has received early stimulation
§ Develops sports activities
§ Develops artistic activity
§ Develops musical activity
§ Games as a recreational activity
§ Use of telephones
§ Use of computers
§ Mothers as head of household
§ Sufficient time of attention to children
§ Share more than 3 hours of quality time
§ Use of controlled substances (drugs).
§ Marijuana use
§ Cocaine use
§ Alcohol use
§ Cigarette use
§ Some type of domestic violence
For action 2 the diagnosis, it is suggested to apply the census in the
community context where the population is chosen intentionally
according to the purposes and objectives of the diagnosis and
according to the age of the children.
After applying the survey and obtaining the results, it is suggested to
proceed to organize it by categories in order to present it in an
organized and summarized way, to show the various characteristics
that make it up; which after compiling them, allows the discovery of
patterns and certain propensities within the community under
investigation. This will help to determine the relationships between
the data obtained, and provide the conclusive aspects or results and
the possibility of putting together groups of children according to age
to apply the actions of the community strategy, which constitutes
action 3 of this phase.
Phase 2 Application of the Community Strategy for Comprehensive
Child Development in the Batallón del Suburbio community.
25
Received Febrary 24, 2023/ Approved March, 2, 2023 Pages: 18-27
eISSN: 2600-5743
Centro Sur Vol. 8 No. 1 – April – June
Objective: To contribute to the Integral Child Development of children
from 0 to 5 years old in the Batallón del Suburbio community, favoring
their growth in adequate family contexts from an intercultural and
contextualized approach.
Actions
1. Implementation of the Community Project contemplating internal
and external factors.
● Development of recreational cultural activities.
● Learning activities through educational strengthening
workshops.
● Training activities for parents.
Once the diagnosis has been carried out, it is suggested to establish the
intervention guidelines and set up the Community Project, which
corresponds to phase 2. With the results of the census, the groups that
will participate in the research will be put together, establishing them
intentionally based on the ages of the children, which in turn were
formed by three subgroups:
• Group 1 children from 0 to 1 years old
• Group 2 children from 1 to 3 years old
• Group 3 children from 3 to 5 years old
With the sample and the selected groups, the intervention of the
students of the Integral Child Development career of the TES will
begin. As part of their hours of Linkage with Society and good
community practices, they will apply the actions corresponding to
Phase 2 Application of the Community Strategy for Integral Child
Development in the Batallón del Suburbio community.
In relation to the Community project, external factors will be
considered, among which the following stand out:
Cultural Development and Community Social Development: for the
fulfillment of these factors a community project will be assembled with
the participation of the group under investigation and the direction of
the students of the career that will include as activities:
Cultural recreational activities
26
Received Febrary 24, 2023/ Approved March, 2, 2023 Pages: 18-27
eISSN: 2600-5743
Centro Sur Vol. 8 No. 1 – April – June
- Cultural recreational activities for Christmas.
- Puppet festival.
- Reading corner of children's stories.
- Activity for children's day.
- Recreational activities.
Learning activities
- Early stimulation program for children from 0 to 2 years old.
- Workshops for educational strengthening based on the development
of skills of the Early Education curriculum sub-level 1 with groups of
children from 2 to 3 years old.
Training activities for parents
- Cycle of educational talks to parents on topics related to
Comprehensive Child Development.
In the development of the recreational cultural activities, the
observation guide was applied, which measured the following aspects
that are part of the internal factors:
- Social, psychological and emotional well-being.
- Improvement of the children's quality of life.
- Social integration.
Phase 3 Validation of the application of the strategy.
Objective: To validate the effectiveness of the application of the
strategy.
Actions
1. Application of instruments in experimental group 1 and control
group 2.
2. Contrast the results.
For the validation of the strategy, it is suggested to apply a survey and
an interview to parents. As well as tests of knowledge to the children
who participated in the application of the strategy to verify the
effectiveness of the application of the strategy.
27
Received Febrary 24, 2023/ Approved March, 2, 2023 Pages: 18-27
eISSN: 2600-5743
Centro Sur Vol. 8 No. 1 – April – June
Conclusions
The design of the Community Strategy for Comprehensive Child
Development in the Batallón del Suburbio community, from the
Functional Structural Systemic approach allowed to determine the
structure of its functioning.
The modeling of a Community Strategy for Comprehensive Child
Development in the Batallón del Suburbio community will allow its
application in this context, helping the growth of children influenced
by internal and external factors.
References
Addine Fernández, F. (2006). Estrategia didáctica para potenciar la
cultura científica desde la enseñanza de la química en el
preuniversitario cubano.Tesis presentada en opción al grado
científico de Doctor en Ciencias Pedagógicas.Instituto Superior
Pedagógico Enrique José Varona. La Habna .
Álvarez de Zayas, C. (1995). Metodología de la Investigación
Científica . Santiago de Cuba, Cuba : Centro de Estudios de
Educación Superior "Manuel F. Gran" Santiago De Cuba.
Fernández Rodríguez, M., Abreu Fernández, J. P., & Marrero Batista,
C. (2022). Factores limitantes del Desarrollo Infantil de los niños
hasta 5 años en la Comunidad Batallón del suburbio de
Guayaquil. Sinergias Educativas, 1–24.
doi:https://doi.org/10.37954/s
Fernández-Rodríguez, M. M. (2021). Sustentos teóricos que
fundamentan la influencia del contexto comunitario en el
Desarrollo Infantil Integral de los niños de 0-5 años. INNOVA
Research Journal, 6(3.1). doi:
https://doi.org/10.33890/innova.v6.n3.1.2
Fuentes González, H. (1999). Modelo Holístico Configuracional de la
Didáctica de la Educación Superior. Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.
MIES-INFA. (2011). Desarrollo Infantil Integral; Conceptualización.
Quito: Sistema de Formación Tejiendo el Buen Vivir.
