Study of early childhood development and its relationship with parenting practices in poverty contexts within the city of Córdoba

Abstract

Introduction: This study addresses the relationship between social determinants in poverty contexts, parenting practices, and the psychomotor development of children aged 0 to 5 in the city of Córdoba. Methods: The Screening for psychomotor development problems at primary care level (PRUNAPE, Prueba Nacional de Pesquisa), the Parenting Practices Instrument (Instrumento de Prácticas de Crianza), and the Family Environment Questionnaire (Cuestionario de Ambiente Familiar) were applied to the mother-child coupling (246 cases). The data were analyzed based on the frequency of the categorical variables, and the summary measures of assessable variables and associations were evaluated with the chi-squared test for categorical variables, ANOVA and non-parametric test for the assessable ones. Results: A 95% confidence level was considered. Children have a close relationship with their social and environmental determinants, the development of 3 out of 10 children is at risk. The father’s educational level (p<0.001) and the mother’s employment status (or father’s) (p<0.001) were associated. The parenting practice risk was predominant in cases where the adult does not interpret the child's signals 16.66%; does not interact with songs, stories nor games 16.66%, and does not receive parenting help 20.73%. Children whose parents do not perceive their autonomy have approximately twice the risk of not passing the PRUNAPE (p<0.02, OR: 1.96; IC: 1.11-3.49). Conclusion: It may be assumed that the course of development, as a process, is associated with adult-child interaction, mother-child communication and the visualization that parents have of the children’ autonomy.