A study on Developmental delay among children less than 2 year attending Well Baby Clinic - Prevalence and antecedents factors

Abstract

Background: Early detection of neurodevelopmental abnormalities is important because of possibility of instituting early intervention program for that child. Trivandrum developmental screening test (TDSC) has sensitivity of 66.7% and specificity of 78.8%. This makes it a reasonably good test to screen children. Aims & Objective: To study the prevalence of developmental delay among children less than 2 years attending well baby clinic using TDSC and antecedents factors of developmental delay. Material and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 200 patients visiting well baby clinic starting from age of 1 month till 2 years. Study was conducted for a period of 3 months from February 2013 to May 2013. Details pertaining to exact age, term or preterm status, maternal and paternal h/o was taken. Developmental screening was done using TDSC chart. Bell, pen, keys were used for assessment along with chart. Results were analyzed using SPSS 16.0. Results: Total of 200 patients was screened.181 children were found to be normal with 85.6%-94.2 % CI. In 19 children, delay was found with 5.8%-14.4 % CI. Preterm, IUGR, respiratory distress, sepsis, seizures in neonatal period showed significant p value for developmental delay. Microcephaly patients when screened for TDSC showed developmental delay with p value less than 0.05.All growth parameters (head, weight and length) when less than third centile showed significant association to developmental delay. The study also showed linear regression curve significant for awareness of developmental as maternal education improves. Conclusion: Developmental screening with TDSC showed developmental delay prevalence 9.5%. All children should be screened in well baby clinic for developmental delay. In India, sources have found prevalence of 1.5-2.5% of developmental delay in children less than 2 years of age. High incidence of our study can be due to study done at tertiary care centre. Preterm and IUGR were found to have developmental delay with significant p value. Various antecedents' factors responsible for early brain injury showed significant p value. Hence every child attending well baby clinic should be screened for developmental delay with effective screening method such as TDSC.

Developmental Delays and Its Predictors Among Infants- A Cross Sectional Study in Rural Areas of Siliguri Subdivision, Darjeeling District, West Bengal.

“…History of sepsis in developmentally delayed child was also mentioned by Meenai et al [2] in their study in Bhanpur, Bhopal. However, studies by Sachdeva et al [13] and Vora et al [12] contradict the association between neonatal jaundice and developmental delay observed in current study. However, in present study multiple gestation, period of gestation and birth asphyxia was not found to be significantly associated with global developmental delay which was supported and contradicted by several other studies across the world [2,12,13,16,17,20,21,23,24] .…”

“…These findings were supported by several other studies conducted globally as well as in India [4,16,17,21,23] . A study by Vora et al [12] also revealed that sepsis was significantly associated with developmental domains of TDSC but no association was found with meningitis. History of sepsis in developmentally delayed child was also mentioned by Meenai et al [2] in their study in Bhanpur, Bhopal.…”

“…Individual domain specific prevalence of delay was observed as 132(17%) in communication, Table 3]. [2,9,[12][13][14][15][16][17] . Higher prevalence of delay in the study area indicates probable delayed diagnosis of the cases.…”

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Developmental Delays among Preschool Children in Saudi Arabia

“…A wide variation in the prevalence of DDs throughout the world ranging from 1.5% to 19.8% has been reported. (18)(19)(20) This could be attributed to the use of diverse tools for evaluating development, and studies being led in different societies. In the United States, the prevalence of any type of DDs is estimated at 15%.…”

Developmental delay among children below two years of age: a cross-sectional study in a community development block of Burdwan district, West Bengal

“…4,8,9 A study conducted by Vora et al among children less than 2 years in well baby clinic with TDSC found prevalence of 9.5%. 4,10 Only mere assessment of developmental milestones of the children under RBSK will not help policy makers to take necessary action; various factors associated with the outcome should also be searched for taking measures. Any delay in development of children and its contributory factors may be suggestive of the need for strengthening the existing programs or the need for exploring and initiating newer possibilities.…”