The performance of the parish board in comprehensive early childhood development in Atahualpa parish

Abstract

Introduction: This study examines child development public policies in the rural parish of Atahualpa, Santa Elena Province, focusing on the administrative performance of the Local Autonomous Government (GAD). The research aims to evaluate institutional management, policy implementation, and community perception regarding integral child welfare. Methodology: A mixed-methods approach with a descriptive-analytical scope was implemented, incorporating surveys from a sample of 114 households (95% CI; 4.56% margin of error) and semi-structured interviews with key local stakeholders. Qualitative data were processed through systematic analysis to identify emerging governance categories. Results: Findings indicate that high levels of social legitimacy (87% approval) fail to offset deep-seated structural management constraints. Specifically, a critical budgetary gap persists, hindering multidisciplinary service delivery, territorial planning, and cross-sectoral articulation with the national social protection system. Conclusion: The results evidence that public policies for child development present structural limitations in their implementation. It is concluded that there is a marked feminization of care, identifying mothers as the strategic actors within the territory. Furthermore, the demand for ludic spaces and creative learning confirms that public infrastructure has been historically welfare-oriented (asistencialista), and that the physical environment must be redesigned under a child-centered tactical urbanism approach.