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Association Between the COVID-19 Pandemic and Infant Neurodevelopment: A Comparison Before and During COVID-19

Peiyuan Huang1,2, Fengjuan Zhou1,2, Yixin Guo1,2

  • 1Division of Birth Cohort Study, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.

Frontiers in Pediatrics
|October 25, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic experience was linked to delays in fine motor and communication skills for 1-year-olds, particularly first-born children. No effects were seen in 6-month-old infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurodevelopment
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic introduced unprecedented public health challenges.
  • Understanding the pandemic's impact on early childhood neurodevelopment is crucial for timely interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between the COVID-19 pandemic experience and neurodevelopment in 6-month-old and 1-year-old children.
  • To explore potential differences in this association based on birth order.

Main Methods:

  • A comparison study utilizing data from the Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study in China.
  • Neurodevelopmental assessments were conducted using Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3) and Gesell Developmental Schedules (GDS).
  • Exposed group (pandemic period 2020) compared to non-exposed group (pre-pandemic 2015-2019).

Main Results:

  • Pandemic exposure was associated with increased risk of fine motor and communication delays at 1 year.
  • The association with communication delay was significant only in first-born children.
  • No significant associations were found for 6-month-old infants across all domains.

Conclusions:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health measures may increase the risk of fine motor and communication developmental delays in 1-year-olds.
  • The impact on communication development was specific to first-born children.
  • Early neurodevelopment in 6-month-olds appeared unaffected by the pandemic experience.

Keywords:
COVID-19 pandemicchild developmentinfant behaviorobservational studysocial isolation

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