Factors Associated with Suspected Developmental Delay in Thai Children Born with Low Birth Weight or Asphyxia

Area of Science:

• Child Development
• Public Health
• Neonatal Care

Background:

• Developmental delay (DD) poses significant challenges for children and healthcare systems.
• Identifying high-risk populations is crucial for early intervention and improved outcomes.
• Thailand faces a need to understand and address factors contributing to developmental delays in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key factors associated with the risk of suspected developmental delay (SDD) in high-risk children in Thailand.
• To inform targeted screening and intervention strategies for vulnerable infants.
• To reduce the long-term impact of undetected developmental delays.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Rajanagarindra Institute of Child Development, Thailand, for developmental delay (DD) screening.
• Included 14,314 children under five years old with risk factors such as low birth weight (<2500g) and/or birth asphyxia.
• Employed the Developmental Assessment for Intervention Manual (DAIM) for assessments between August 2013 and November 2019.

Main Results:

• Children born preterm (<37 weeks gestation) had an increased risk of SDD (aOR=1.54).
• Low birth weight (<2500g) was associated with higher SDD risk (aOR=1.22).
• Maternal factors including lower education, poor nutritional status, and living in high-altitude areas also increased SDD risk.

Conclusions:

• Low birth weight and birth asphyxia are significant risk factors for developmental delay in children.
• Community health worker monitoring and outreach strategies are recommended, especially in underserved areas.
• Policy development and early interventions are essential to mitigate problems arising from late DD detection.