Abstract
ABSTRACTObjective: To screen children under 24 months of age for neuropsychomotor and social-emotional development in a municipality of the Brazilian semi-arid region, using the Survey of Well-Being of Young Children (SWYC) scale.Methods: This is a quantitative cross-sectional study with a non-probabilistic sample, involving children aged 1 to 24 months and their respective mothers, recruited from primary care services in the municipality of Picos, Piauí, Northeastern Brazil. The screening for neuropsychomotor and social-emotional development using the SWYC scale also provided information about the family context. In addition, we administered a questionnaire to assess the children’s demographic and socioeconomic factors. Descriptive data analysis was performed.Results: The sample consisted mostly of adult mothers (84.0%), with more than 8 years of schooling (83.3%), belonging to the C, D, and E socioeconomic classes (75.3%). The prevalence of suspected cases of delayed neuropsychomotor development and social-emotional changes was 12.7 and 42.2%, respectively.Conclusions: The results point to the existence of children at risk of delayed development, particularly in the social-emotional domain, reaffirming the need to adopt child development screening as a health service routine, with the implementation of appropriate intervention programs.
Highlights
Current estimates indicate that 43% of children under 5 years living in middle- and low-income countries are at risk of not reaching their full physical, cognitive, psychological, and/or social-emotional potential,[1] compromising the human capital in a generational cycle that perpetuates social inequality.[2]
Concerning the family environment, except for the little reading done for children (22.6%), the prevalent conditions cited were favorable to child development (Table 1)
The results indicate suspected delay in neuropsychomotor development (DNPMD) and especially behavioral changes in the children assessed, reinforcing the need for continuous surveillance so as to promote the timely adoption of interventions that optimize child development and allow the children to reach their potential
Summary
Current estimates indicate that 43% of children under 5 years living in middle- and low-income countries are at risk of not reaching their full physical, cognitive, psychological, and/or social-emotional potential,[1] compromising the human capital in a generational cycle that perpetuates social inequality.[2] Reversing this scenario would result in rates of return of 7–10% throughout life, by means of better economic, education, health, and social indicators, in addition to a reduction in crime.[3]. Many factors are considered potential risks for neurodevelopment, as they represent adversities that affect families and the broader socioeconomic context, jeopardizing health, nutrition, safety and protection, responsive care, and early learning. Among pre-natal risk factors, intrauterine growth restriction, lead exposure, maternal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and iodine and iron deficiencies stand out. They include: stunting, malaria, as well as factors that limit learning opportunities and early stimulation for the child, such as maternal depression, domestic violence, and institutionalization.[1,4,5]
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