Global developmental delay and its determinants among urban infants and toddlers: a cross sectional study
Sandeep Sachdeva1, Ali Amir, Seema Alam
1JN Medical College, AMU, Aligarh, India. sandeepsemail@rediffmail.com
Insights
Global developmental delay affects 7.1% of children under three. Undernutrition, prematurity, stunting, and maternal illiteracy are key contributing factors, guiding early intervention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Global Health
Background:
- Global developmental delay (GDD) is a significant concern in early childhood.
- Identifying prevalence and determinants is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the prevalence of GDD in children under three years.
- To investigate biological and environmental factors associated with GDD.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional descriptive study involving 468 children aged 0-3 years.
- Developmental screening and analysis of biological and environmental factors were conducted.
Main Results:
- 7.1% of children screened positive for GDD, with the highest prevalence in the 0-12 months age group.
- Undernutrition and prematurity were the leading etiological diagnoses (21% each).
- Stunting, maternal illiteracy, prematurity, and a history of seizures were significant predictors.
Conclusions:
- Specific biological and environmental factors can predict developmental delay.
- Early identification of these predictors can facilitate appropriate interventions for children.
Objective:
To estimate the prevalence of global developmental delay among children under 3 years of age and study the determinant factors.
Methods:
Cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in field practice areas of the Department of Community Medicine, JN Medical College, Aligarh, India. A total of 468 (243 boys and 225 girls) children aged 0-3 years were included. Developmental screening was performed for each child. A multitude of biological and environmental factors were analysed.
Results:
As many as 7.1% of the children screened positive for global developmental delay. Maximum delay was observed in the 0-12 months age group (7.0%). Undernutrition and prematurity were the two most prevalent etiological diagnoses (21% each). Stunting and maternal illiteracy were the microenvironmental predictors on stepwise binary logistic regression while prematurity and a history of seizures emerged significant biological predictors.
Conclusions:
Developmental delay can be predicted by specific biological and environmental factors which would help in initiating appropriate interventions.
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