Factores de riesgo asociados a déficit del desarrollo psicomotor en preescolares de nivel socioeconómico bajo: Comuna urbano rural, Región Metropolitana, 2003

Abstract

Introduction: Science has proven the importance of early childhood development. In Chile, infants and pre-school children undergo serial standardized screening tests, aiming for early detection and intervention of developmental delays. Objective: to identify risk factors (RF) for developmental delay in pre-school children who belong to a Family Health Center serving a low-income urban/rural community, in the Metropolitan Region (North Area) of Santiago. Method: Retrospective review of 159 healthy pre-school children files (including personal and family charts), who had their TEPSI development screening test at 4 years-old, according to the program during 2003. The study group (SG) included all children with developmental deficits, and the control group (CG) was obtained from sequential selection of charts from children with normal test performed during the last trimester of 2003. Results: In 2003, 541 of 610 children under control at the Family Health Center had the TEPSI test due at age 4. SG included 76 children with developmental delay (abnormal test); CG included 83 children with normal development. 23% of the CG had some abnormal sub-test (usually involving language). RF for developmental deficit: male sex (p0.0006), poorer families (p0.0018), Family Health Center registration after 12 month of age (p 0.0075), not attending pre-school education (p 0.0075), suspected developmental deficit in previous evaluations (p 0.0013) and illiterate mother (p 0.018). Conclusions: In a low-income population, preventive actions including health promotion and education play a protective role on infant development. To know the risk factors for developmental disability helps to identify those children who require a more intensive intervention, in order to promote the expression of their potential.