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What factors are associated with poor developmental attainment in young Canadian children?

Teresa To1, Astrid Guttmann, Paul T Dick

  • 1Population Health Sciences Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8. teresa.to@sickkids.ca

Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne De Sante Publique
|September 15, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Low income, immigrant mothers, and low maternal education are linked to poor developmental attainment in Canadian children. These factors highlight the need for targeted developmental services for at-risk populations.

Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Public Health
  • Socioeconomic Determinants of Health

Background:

  • Poor developmental attainment (PDA) affects Canadian children.
  • Biological, home environment, and socio-demographic factors are potential contributors to PDA.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the association between PDA and various factors in Canadian children.
  • To identify key risk factors for developmental delays in young children.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized cross-sectional data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (Cycles 1994/95 and 1996/97).
  • Included children aged 1-5 years.
  • Defined PDA using percentile cutoffs for developmental skills and vocabulary tests; employed multiple logistic regression analysis.

Main Results:

  • PDA prevalence varied by Canadian region, sex, and age.
  • In 1-year-olds, low birthweight, male sex, and immigrant mothers increased PDA odds.
  • In 4-5-year-olds, immigrant mothers and mothers with low educational attainment significantly increased PDA odds.
  • Low income was a consistent predictor of PDA across all age groups.

Conclusions:

  • Strong associations found between PDA and low household income, maternal low educational attainment, and immigrant mothers.
  • These findings underscore the necessity of targeted developmental assessments and services for vulnerable populations.
Abstract

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