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Factors influencing performance of chronically ill children on a developmental screening test
P D Williams1, A R Williams, A R Landa
1College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
Insights
The Metro-Manila Developmental Screening Test (MMDST) identifies developmental risks in chronically ill Filipino children. Factors like older age, female sex, low weight, rural residence, and lower parental education are associated with abnormal MMDST scores.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health
Background:
- The Metro-Manila Developmental Screening Test (MMDST) is a localized version of the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST).
- Norms were established in 1980 using over 6000 Filipino children.
- The MMDST is utilized for screening developmental milestones in young populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify characteristics differentiating chronically ill children with abnormal MMDST scores from those with normal scores.
- To analyze discriminant factors within child, parent, and situational variables.
Main Methods:
- A discriminant analysis was performed on 16 variables for 405 chronically ill Filipino children.
- Children were categorized into abnormal (n=130) and normal (n=183) MMDST score groups.
- Eleven significant variables were identified and clustered.
Main Results:
- Abnormal MMDST scores were linked to older age, female sex, low present weight, and being an "only" child.
- Parental factors included lower maternal and paternal education and father's rural residence history.
- Situational factors comprised larger family size, rural residence, and non-working mothers.
Conclusions:
- Chronically ill children with abnormal MMDST scores often present with specific demographic and socioeconomic profiles.
- Identifying these risk factors can aid in targeted developmental screening and early intervention strategies.
- The study highlights the importance of considering child, family, and environmental factors in developmental assessments.
Abstract:
The Metro-Manila Developmental Screening Test (MMDST) is a Philippine version of the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) for which norms were developed in 1980 on 6006 Filipino children. The MMDST was administered in homes and out-patient clinics to children with chronic illness such as cardiac, neurologic, metabolic and others (n = 405). A discriminant analysis using 16 variables was carried out to compare the characteristics of chronically ill children with abnormal scores of the MMDST (n = 130) and those with normal scores (n = 183). Eleven variables with significant standardized discriminant function coefficients formed three clusters: a child variable cluster (age, -0.31; sex, 0.23; present weight, 0.25; and "only" child, 0.17); a parent variable cluster (mother's education, 0.43; place of longest residence of father, 0.38 and of mother, -0.28; and father's education, 0.17); and a situational variable cluster (number of children in the family, -0.23; current place of residence, 0.25; and working mother, 0.17). Children who tended to have abnormal MMDST scores were older, female, with low present weights, large families, living in rural areas, with mothers not working outside the home (hence, lower family incomes). Additionally, the mothers and fathers of these children had lower educations and fathers had resided in rural areas for a major portion of their lives.