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.