A study to assess knowledge about child development in caregivers attending the child psychiatry outpatient department

Abstract

Background: The initial years of child nurturing plays an important role in child development and lifelong learning. Parents’ knowledge is considered to be the frame of reference for parents’ interpretations of their child’s behaviour and provides the basis for having the appropriate expectation of the child’s developmental stage. When developmental delays are identified at the appropriate time, it increases the scope to initiate early intervention. Early intervention in children with developmental delay, can not only improve the overall disease outcome but also it provides support to family members. Aim: To assess the caregivers’ knowledge about child development and to study the association between caregivers’ knowledge and sociodemographic parameters. Materials and Methods: 110 Caregivers of children presenting to the child psychiatry OPD were screened for assessment criteria. A semi-structured intake proforma was administered to collect the sociodemographic details. Caregiver knowledge of child developmental inventory was applied on caregivers to garner the responses. Results: 84% of caregivers were mothers. On an average, caregivers were able to answer only 36% of the questions correctly. Maternal age (p=0.048) and maternal education (p=0.009) were identified to be significant predictors of higher CKCDI scores. Conclusion: Caregiver’s knowledge regarding the child development is low. Younger mothers mother and higher maternal education are associated with higher knowledge about the development of their children. Keywords: Child development, Caregiver’s knowledge.