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Early child health in Lahore, Pakistan: XII. Milestones
M Yaqoob1, H Ferngren, F Jalil
1Department of Social and Preventive Paediatrics, King Edward Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan.
Insights
Infant psychomotor development in Lahore, Pakistan, showed delays in poorer areas compared to the upper middle (Um) class. These delays in early childhood development may impact future achievements.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Global Health
Background:
- Assessing psychomotor development is crucial for early identification of developmental delays.
- Socioeconomic factors significantly influence child development outcomes.
- Urbanization levels can impact access to resources affecting child development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate psychomotor development in Pakistani infants across varying urbanization levels.
- To compare developmental milestones between different socioeconomic strata.
- To identify potential disparities in early childhood development.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 1476 infants was studied from birth to 24 months.
- Development was assessed monthly using 10 milestones from the Denver Developmental Screening Test and Developmental Screening Inventory.
- The upper middle (Um) class served as a control group, with development comparable to European/North American reference populations.
Main Results:
- Infants from poorer areas exhibited significant psychomotor development delays compared to the Um class.
- Delays averaged approximately 3 months in walking and fine motor skills (e.g., building a tower of 3 cubes).
- No significant sex differences were observed, except for earlier talking in Um-class girls.
Conclusions:
- Socioeconomic status is a key determinant of psychomotor development in Pakistani infants.
- Early psychomotor development disturbances in disadvantaged populations warrant attention.
- Interventions may be needed to mitigate developmental delays and their long-term consequences.
Abstract:
Psychomotor development was assessed in 1476 infants from four different levels of urbanization in and around Lahore, Pakistan. Development was assessed monthly at birth to 24 months of age by using a set of 10 milestones selected from the Denver Developmental Screening Test and the Developmental Screening Inventory. The psychomotor development of children in the upper middle (Um) class was consistent with reference population groups in Europe and North America, hence this group was used as control. There was significant delay in the psychomotor development of infants belonging to the poorer areas compared to the Um class. There was no sex difference in the development of the milestones in any study area, except for girls in the Um class who were earlier for about one month than boys in talking. Infants in the poorer areas were, on average about 3 months, delayed in their walking and fine motor activity (building a tower of 3 cubes) in comparison with the Um class. Observed disturbance in psychomotor development at an early age may affect the abilities and achievements in later life.