Denver Developmental Screening Test Research Articles

The effect of regular physical activities on neurological status, developmental parameters, and physical fitness in preschoolers

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to compare the neurological status, developmental parameters and physical fitness of children who engage in regular physical activity in the preschool period versus those who do not. The study included 305 healthy children aged 4–6 years, consisting of 154 girls and 151 boys. In addition to evaluating the demographic characteristics of children; Touwen Neurological Examination, Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) II, and Preschool Physical Fitness (PREFIT) test battery were used to assess neurological status, developmental parameters, and physical fitness, respectively. A statistically significant difference was found between neurological status (p = 0.046), developmental parameters (p = 0.000) and physical fitness (Standing Long Jump (p = 0.008), handgrip (p = 0.006)) of preschool children who engaged in regular physical activity compared to those who did not. Preschool children who participated in regular physical activity had no neurological problems and exhibited better developmental parameters and physical fitness than their inactive peers.

Динамика уровня маркеров повреждения центральной нервной системы при лечении пациентов с аутизмом

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objectives. </strong>Studies to identify serologic markers of the nature of protein associated with the development of autism spectrum disorders are relevant for the improvement of diagnostic methods. The relationship between the quantitative content of phosphorylated tau protein and light chains of neurofilaments in the blood of children with autism and changes in the clinical picture of the disease during therapeutic interventions was revealed.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Methods. </strong>Children aged from 3 to 12 years with diagnoses: infantile autism — 23 children; impaired psycho-verbal development due to organic brain damage — 34; conditionally healthy children — 15 people were studied. Anamnestic data was collected, an objective examination was conducted, and medical records were analyzed. The study utilized: the Denver Developmental Screening Test, the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS); Human Tau [pT181] phosphoELISA Kit system test (KHO0631, USA), as well as the Human Neurofilament-Light Chain (NFL) ELISA Kit (EiAab, USA) for the quantitative determination of the phosphorylated isoform of tau protein and light chains of neurofilaments in blood samples by enzyme-linked immunoassay. The statistical processing of data was performed using the MannWhitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and Wilcoxon tests. Qualitative features were analyzed using Fisher’s criterion.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Results. </strong>When studying the quantitative content of phosphorylated tau protein in the blood plasma and neurofilament light chains in the blood serum over time in 18 patients with autism, a significant decrease in the content of phosphorylated tau protein (p < 0.001, Wilcoxon test) and neurofilament light chains (p = 0.007, Wilcoxon test) was revealed when prescribing pathogenetic treatment with a positive effect from therapy. An example of a clinical case is presented.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusions. </strong>It is shown that the determination of the quantitative content of markers of central nervous system damage in blood can be used to assess changes in the functional state of its neuronal and axonal apparatus under the influence of therapy in children with autism. It is possible to further develop the research using the results obtained in the comparison of clinical, neuropsychological and biochemical indicators in assessing the dynamics of the clinical picture of the disease.</p>

Penatalaksanaan Fisioterapi pada Kasus Development Delay: Case Report

Growth and development have similarities in change. And these changes involve all physical members, motor skills and language development. If there are abnormalities in the child's growth and development process, then the child will experience delays in growth and development which is usually called Developmental Delay. This study aims to determine the effect of play therapy on the growth and development of children with developmental delay conditions. This research uses the case study method. After carrying out therapy 8 times, the results showed that play therapy had an effect on improving gross motor skills and improving balance in children with developmental delay. Examination of children's motor skills using the DDST (Denver Development Screening Test) revealed an increase in several stages of ability development in gross motor aspects. Examination of the child's balance using the PBS (Pediatric Balance Scale) showed an increase in balance in several categories, such as the child being able to stand independently and turning 360°.

The Effect of Baby Gym on Improving Baby Development in Purwakarta Regency, Indonesia

Introduction: Infancy is a critical period for physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. Baby gym is a stimulation program designed to improve baby development through various physical, sensory, and social activities. This research aims to analyze the effectiveness of baby gym in improving baby development in Purwakarta Regency, Indonesia.
 Methods: Quasi-experimental research design with pre-test and post-test. A sample of 60 babies aged 6-12 months was divided into two groups: intervention (n=30) who participated in the baby gym program for 3 months and controls (n=30) who did not participate in the baby gym program. Infant development was measured using the Denver developmental screening test (DDST) before and after intervention.
 Results: There was a significant difference in the development of babies in the intervention group compared to the control group (p<0.05). The intervention group showed a higher increase in the DDST total score and gross motor, fine motor, language, and personal social subdomains.
 Conclusion: The baby gym program is effective in improving baby development in Purwakarta Regency, Indonesia.

Deteksi Perkembangan Anak Dengan DDST (Denver Development Screening Test) Di Poskeskel Pasir Gintung

Introduction: The toddler years mark an important phase of fundamental growth that significantly shapes and influences a child's subsequent development. During this period, children's brains experience rapid growth which is often called the Golden Age. This phase is very important, so it requires careful attention to the child's growth and development to detect abnormalities as early as possible. Data collected at the Pasir Gintung Health Post shows that there were 12 children aged 2-4 years.Objectives: The main objectives include increasing parents' understanding in monitoring children's development, providing education regarding screening methods using the DDST approach, and actively monitoring children's development using the DDST method.Method: This Community Service was carried out using DDST (Denver Development Screening Test) measurements at the Pasir Gintung Health Post on Friday 5 January 2024. Results: The results of the DDST examination on 12 children showed that 10 children (83.4%) were declared normal, while 2 children (16.6%) had suspected development. Evaluation of children's overall growth and development includes gross motor skills, fine motor skills, speech, language, socialization and independence.Conclusion: These findings underline the important role of parental involvement in facilitating early detection of children's growth and development activities. Implementing a collaborative approach ensures that children's growth and development is a shared responsibility between parents and educators. It is very important for parents to be actively involved in monitoring their child's progress, encouraging the development of four main aspects: personal-social, adaptive-fine motor, language, and gross motor skills.

Perbedaan Kemandirian Anak Ditinjau dari Pola Pengasuhan Orang Tua dengan Kakek Nenek pada Anak Usia Dini 3 Sampai 6 Tahun

Introduction: Early age is the age of children who are in the age range from 0 to 6 years. This early age is the age when children experience very rapid growth. Early age is often referred to as the golden age. At this time adults need to provide a good stimulus for children and provide useful skills for the child's future. This period is also the time for children to lay the first foundation in developing physical, cognitive, language, social-emotional abilities, self-concept, discipline, independence, art, morals, and religious values. Objectives: To find out whether there is a difference between children raised by parents and children raised by grandparents at RA. Persis Qurrata A'yun Depok kindergarten. Method: This study uses a descriptive method with a quantitative approach. The population in this study was all 57 RA. Persis Qurrata A'yun Depok kindergarten students. The sample used was 40 respondents aged 3 years to 6 years, 20 were raised by their parents and 20 were raised by their grandparents, while 17 other children were 7 people. Children not willing to be respondents, 4 children not being cared for by parents or grandparents, 5 children aged more than 6 years 2 children not coming during the study. Data collection using DDST (Denver Developmental Screening Test) and questionnaires. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests. Result: The mean value of parental care is higher, 67.45 > 54.00, compared to the lower mean value of parental care. H0 is rejected and Ha is accepted, as seen from the calculation of the mean value. Conclusion: There is a difference in the independence of children who are cared for by parents and children who are cared for by grandparents.

Effectiveness of early intervention on developmental milestones among early-term babies

Background. Developmental delay is the delayed milestone compared with peers. This pilot study aims to investigate the effect of early intervention on developmental delay among early‑term babies and infants aged three months. The study will utilize two widely recognized assessment tools, the Bayley Scale and the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) Scale, to evaluate the developmental progress of the participants. The intervention will be provided for three months, and the study will examine the outcomes post‑intervention. Methods. This study is one of the perspective, experimental, single‑blinded, randomized control trials, and multi‑center hospital‑based outpatient department studies. Children who were visited and recruited from the outpatient department were assessed for developmental delay using DDST and Bayley scores. A total of 50 babies were chosen based on the inclusion criteria and then randomized into two groups. The control group with parental education and the experimental group were given early intervention. Assessment was done at 3‑months and post‑test on completion of 6 months. According to the Bayley score, and the data were analyzed. Results. According to the pilot study, the SPSS pre‑ and post‑values shows a significant difference in the gross motor functions of 14.10 ± 1.79, fine motor functions 7.90 ± 0.316, and cognitive functions 13.60 ± 0.516. This showed that the experimental group is significantly improved. Conclusion. This study showed that early‑term babies also have chances of developmental delay, and that early intervention for overcoming developmental delay is effective.

Evaluation of Neurodevelopmental Screening Test Scores in Children with Vitamin B12 Deficiency.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to hematological findings, neurological symptoms, and neurodevelopmental delay. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of vitamin B12 deficiency on the neurodevelopment of children. This study included 89 children aged between 6 and 24 months without any complaints; 44 of these were evaluated in the study group (serum vitamin B12 <300 pg/mL) and 45 in the control group (serum vitamin B12 ≥300 pg/mL). Denver Developmental Screening Test II (DDST-II) and the Social Communication Area Screening Test (SCAST) were evaluated in each participant. The mean vitamin B12 level in the study group was 206.11 ± 9.1 pg/mL, and in the control group, it was 540.65 ± 24.1 pg/mL. When DDST-II results were analyzed, the rate of getting suspicious and abnormal results in the study group was significantly higher compared with the control group (p = 0.001). The rate of the "risky" SCAST results of the cases was found to be statistically significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (p = 0.003). Vitamin B12 values of patients with suspicious or abnormal DDST-II results and with risky SCAST results were found to be statistically significantly lower than those with normal neurodevelopmental screening tests results (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to neurodevelopmental delay in children, even in the absence of neurological and hematological symptoms or complaints, which highlights the importance of early detection and intervention of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Prevalence and recurrence of pica behaviors in early childhood within the ALSPAC birth cohort.

The present study examined prevalence and correlates of pica behaviors during childhood using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) study. Data on 10,109 caregivers from the ALSPAC study who reported pica behavior at 36, 54, 65, 77, and 115 months on their child were included. Autism was obtained through clinical and education records, while DD was derived from the Denver Developmental Screening Test. A total of 312 parents (3.08%) reported pica behaviors in their child. Of these, 19.55% reported pica at least at two waves (n = 61). Pica was most common at 36 months (N = 226; 2.29%) and decreased as children aged. A significant association was found between pica and autism at all five waves (p < .001). There was a significant relationship between pica and DD, with individuals with DD more likely to experience pica than those without DD at 36 (p = .01), and 54 (p < .001), 65 (p = .04), 77 (p < .001), and 115 months (p = .006). Exploratory analyses examined pica behaviors with broader eating difficulties and child body mass index. This study enhances understanding of childhood pica behaviors, addressing a significant gap in knowledge. Pica occurrence in the general population is poorly understood due to few epidemiological studies. Findings from the present study indicate pica is an uncommon behavior in childhood; however, children with DD or autism may benefit from pica screening and diagnosis between ages 36 and 115 months. Children who exhibit undereating, overeating, and food fussiness may also engage in pica behaviors.

Safety and efficacy of melatonin supplementation as an add‐on treatment for infantile epileptic spasms syndrome: A randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind trial

AbstractThis was a prospective, randomized, double‐blind, single‐center placebo‐controlled trial to assess the efficacy and safety of melatonin as an add‐on treatment for infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS). Participants aged 3 months to 2 years with a primary diagnosis of IESS were recruited and assigned to two groups in a 1:1 ratio. Both treatment groups received a combination of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) for 2 weeks, and the treatment group also received melatonin (3 mg) between 20:00 and 21:00 daily, 0.5–1 h before bedtime. The study's primary endpoint was the average reduction rate in spasm frequency assessed by seizure diaries. Secondary endpoints included assessment of the response rate, EEG hypsarrhythmia (Kramer score), and psychomotor development (Denver Developmental Screening Test, DDST). Sleep quality was assessed by using the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ), the Infant Sleep Assessment Scale (ISAS), and actigraphy. Safety parameters were also evaluated. Statistical analyses were conducted on intention‐to‐treat and per‐protocol populations. The trial is registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (ChiCTR2000036208). Out of 119 screened patients, 70 were randomized and 66 completed treatments. In the intention‐to‐treat population, there were no significant differences in the average percentage reduction of spasm frequency (median [interquartile range, IQR: Q3–Q1], 100% [46.7%] vs. 66.7% [55.3%], p = .288), the 3‐day response rate (51.4% vs. 37.1%, p = .229), the 28‐day response rate (42.9% vs. 28.6%, p = .212), EEG Kramer scores (2 [3.5] vs. 2 [3], p = .853), or DDST comprehensive months (5 [2.5] vs. 6 [6], p = .239) between the melatonin (n = 35) and placebo (n = 35) groups. However, caregivers reported improved sleep quality after melatonin treatment, with 85.7% reporting regular sleep compared to 42.9% with placebo (42.9%, p &lt; .001). The melatonin group had lower ISAS scores in 4–11‐month‐old patients compared to the placebo (mean ± SD, 29.3 ± 4.4 vs. 35.2 ± 5.9, p &lt; .001). Moreover, the median (IQR) value of sleep‐onset latency was shortened by 6.0 (24.5) min after melatonin treatment, while that in the placebo group was extended by 3.0 (22.0) min (p = .030). The serum melatonin (6:00 h) level (pg/mL) of the children in the melatonin group after treatment was significantly higher than in the placebo group (median [IQR], 84.8 [142] vs. 17.5 [37.6], p &lt; .001). No adverse effects related to melatonin were observed in the study, and there were no significant differences in adverse effects between the melatonin and placebo groups. Although not statistically significant, the results of this randomized clinical trial proved that melatonin supplementation, as an add‐on treatment, can improve spasm control rate in the treatment of IESS. For IESS children treated with ACTH, the addition of melatonin was found to improve sleep quality, shorten sleep onset latency, and increase blood melatonin levels. Moreover, it was observed to be a safe treatment option.

Serum Markers of Brain Injury in Pediatric Patients with Congenital Heart Defects Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: Diagnostic and Prognostic Role.

Introduction: The objectives of this study were to assess the role of neuromarkers like glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), protein S100 (pS100), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) as diagnostic markers of acute brain injury and also as prognostic markers for short-term neurodevelopmental impairment. Methods: Pediatric patients with congenital heart defects (CHDs) undergoing elective cardiac surgery were included. Neurodevelopmental functioning was assessed preoperatively and 4-6 months postoperatively using the Denver Developmental Screening Test II. Blood samples were collected preoperatively and postoperatively. During surgery, regional cerebral tissue oxygen saturation was monitored using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Results: Forty-two patients were enrolled and dichotomized into cyanotic and non-cyanotic groups based on peripheric oxygen saturation. Nineteen patients (65.5%) had abnormal developmental scores in the non-cyanotic group and eleven (84.6%) in the cyanotic group. A good diagnostic model was observed between NIRS values and GFAP in the cyanotic CHD group (AUC = 0.7). A good predicting model was observed with GFAP and developmental scores in the cyanotic CHD group (AUC = 0.667). A correlation was found between NSE and developmental quotient scores (r = 0.09, p = 0.046). Conclusions: From all four neuromarkers studied, only GFAP was demonstrated to be a good diagnostic and prognostic factor in cyanotic CHD patients. NSE had only prognostic value.

Screening and determinant of suspected developmental delays among Egyptian preschool-aged children: a cross-sectional national community-based study

BackgroundEarly childhood life is critical for optimal development and is the foundation of future well-being. Genetic, sociocultural, and environmental factors are important determinants of child development.AimThe objectives were to screen for suspected developmental delays (DDs) among Egyptian preschool children, and to explore the determinants of these delays based on sociodemographic, epidemiological, maternal, and child perinatal risk factors.MethodsA national Egyptian cross-sectional developmental screening of a representative sample of preschool children (21,316 children) aged 12 to 71 months. The Revised Denver Prescreening Developmental Questionnaire (R-PDQ) followed by the Denver Developmental Screening Test, 2nd edition (DDST) was used.ResultsEach screened child manifested at least one of six developmental categories. Either typical development, gross motor delay (GM), fine motor adaptive delay (FMA), Language delay (L), Personal-social delay (PS), or multiple DDs. The prevalence of preschool children with at least one DD was 6.4%, while 4.5% had multiple DDs. Developmental language delay was the most prevalent, affecting 4.2% of children. The least affected domain was GM (1.9% of children). Boys were more likely to have DD than girls. Children in urban communities were more likely to have at least one DD than those in rural areas (OR = 1.28, 95%CI: 1.14–1.42), and children of middle social class than of low or high social class (OR = 1.49, 95%CI: 1.30–1.70 & OR = 1.40, 95%CI: 1.23–1.59 respectively). The strong perinatal predictors for at least one DD were children with a history of postnatal convulsions (OR = 2.68, 95%CI: 1.97–3.64), low birth weight (OR = 2.06, 95%CI: 1.69–2.52), or history of postnatal cyanosis (OR = 1.77, 95%CI: 1.26–2.49) and mothers had any health problem during pregnancy (OR = 1.73, 95%CI: 1.44–2.07). Higher paternal and maternal education decreased the odds of having any DD by 43% (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.47–0.68) and 31% (OR = 0.69, 95%CI: 0.58–0.82) respectively.ConclusionThis study demonstrates a considerable attempt to assess the types and the prevalence of DD among preschool children in Egypt. Perinatal factors are among the most common determinants of DD in preschool children and the majority could be preventable risk factors.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein as a serum neuromarker of brain injury in pediatric patients with congenital heart defects undergoing cardiac surgery

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to assess glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) as a marker of short-term neurodevelopmental delay in pediatric patients with congenital defects (CHD) after cardiovascular surgical intervention. Methods: Included patients were screened by Denver Developmental Screening Test II scale a few days before and then at 4 to 6 months after the surgical intervention. Blood samples were collected preoperatory and at 24 hours after surgery; GFAP levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using commercial kit form BioVendor. Results: Forty children were enrolled and dichotomized into two groups based on peripheric oxygen saturation: cyanotic (&lt;95%) and non-cyanotic (&gt;=95%) group. 63% from our population had an abnormal neurodevelopmental outcome. Significant differences between groups were found in language domain scores preoperatory (p=0.03) and in fine motor domain postoperatory (p=0.03). In the postoperatory period, GFAP had significantly higher values (p=0.0248) in the cyanotic CHD group. Association between GFAP and NIRS were analyzed and significant differences were found in both groups with a good predicting model in the non-cyanotic CHD group (aria under curve of 0.7 for receiver operative characteristic). Higher GFAP levels from the postoperatory period correlated with neurodevelopmental impairment (mean value of: 0.66 ± 0.02ng/ml in those with good neurodevelopmental score, 0.69 ± 0.02ng/ml in those with low neurodevelopmental score, p=0.01). Conclusions: GFAP could be a reliable neuromarker in identifying early acute brain injury documented by NIRS monitorization during perioperatory period and it also could identify short term neurodevelopmental impairment documented by lower neurodevelopmental scores.

Predictive validity of the Denver developmental screening test (Denver-II) to detect risk of developmental coordination disorder in preterm children

IntroductionThe Denver-II is widely used as a screening tool, however, no studies were found about its validity to predict the risk of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) in preterm children. ObjectiveTo verify the predictive validity and accuracy of the Denver-II to identify the risk of DCD in preterm children. MethodsMethodological study with 121 preterm children, evaluated with the Denver-II at ages 1, 2, 3, 4 and/or 5 years and with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC-2) at 7 years. Univariate binary logistic regression analyses were performed and ROC curves were derived. ResultsChildren classified as suspect by Denver-II at 2, 3, and 4 years were, respectively, 3.45, 7.40 and 6.06 times more likely to have a risk of DCD on the MABC-2 (p < 0.05). The area under the ROC curve was considered fair for ages 2 (0.60, 95 % CI 0.50–0.70), 3 (0.61, 95 % CI 0.51–0.71) and 4 (0.64, 95 % CI 0.54–0.74) years. The greater the number of suspects in Denver-II over time, the greater the probability of risk of DCD in the MABC-2 (p < 0.001). ConclusionsGlobal developmental assessment with the Denver-II at ages 2 to 4 years is considered to have fair accuracy to discriminate risk of DCD at school age in children born preterm.

Impact of selected risk factors on motor performance in the third month of life and motor development in the ninth month.

Proper motor development can be influenced by a range of risk factors. The resulting motor performance can be assessed through quantitative and qualitative analysis of posture and movement patterns. This study was designed as the cohort follow-up of the motor assessment and aimed to demonstrate, in a mathematical way, the impact of particular risk factors on elements of motor performance in the 3rd month and the final motor performance in the 9th month of life. Four hundred nineteen children were assessed (236 male and 183 female), including 129 born preterm. Each child aged 3 month underwent a physiotherapeutic assessment of the quantitative and qualitative development, in the prone and supine positions. The neurologist examined each child aged 9 month, referring to the Denver Development Screening Test II and assessing reflexes, muscle tone and symmetry. The following risk factors were analyzed after the neurological consultation: condition at birth (5th min Apgar score), week of gestation at birth, intraventricular hemorrhage, respiratory distress syndrome, and the incidence of intrauterine hypotrophy and hyperbilirubinemia determined based on medical records. A combination of several risk factors affected motor development stronger than any one of them solely, with Apgar score, hyperbilirubinemia, and intraventricular hemorrhage exhibiting the most significant impact. Premature birth on its own did not cause a substantial delay in motor development. Nonetheless, its co-occurrence with other risk factors, namely intraventricular hemorrhage, respiratory distress syndrome, and hyperbilirubinemia, notably worsened motor development prognosis. Moreover, improper position of the vertebral column, scapulae, shoulders, and pelvis in the third month of life may predict disturbances in further motor development.

Optimization of Stimulation of Children's Growth and Development Using Educational Game Tools in Widya Karya Kindergarten: Community Service

The growth and development of early childhood is an asset for future generations. The better the growth and development of children, the better the future generation of the nation will be. The purpose of this service is to optimize the stimulation of children's growth and development in kindergarten schools. The service method is divided into three stages, namely the planning, implementation, and evaluation stages. The target of this service is early childhood in kindergarten totaling 45 children. The activity lasts for a full month and the result is that optimal stimulation can increase children's growth and development where in particular development as measured using the Denver development screening test found that most children grow according to their age.

Efficacy and Long-term Safety of Telbivudine Usage During Second or Third Trimester in Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Positive Mothers With High Viral Load: A 10-year Prospective Study.

The study is to evaluate the efficacy and long-term safety of telbivudine (LdT) usage for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive pregnant women with high viral load. The efficacy and safety of LdT during pregnancy were not assessed from a long-term perspective. HBsAg-positive pregnant women were enrolled and grouped according to antiviral initiation time. Group A (n=100) and group B (n=100) were treated with LdT initiated in the second or third trimester. Group C (n=90) received no antiviral treatment. The efficacy and safety of LdT treatment were compared and infants were followed-up at 1, 5, and 10 years. Denver developmental screening test was conducted at 5 years. Viral loads before delivery in LdT-treated groups were lower than that in group C and group A was lower than that in group B ( P <0.001). No infants in LdT-treated groups were infected whereas 8.8% (8/90) infants in group C had positive HBsAg (χ 2 =23.20, P <0.001). All LdT-treated mothers were well tolerated and no LdT-related adverse events in infants were reported. Part of the physical growth index of infants was higher than Chinese standard values (SV) and showed significant differences. In groups A and B, the developmental screening test qualified rate of 100% (48/48) and 97.96% (48/49) showed no significant difference compared with 92% in normal Chinese children (χ 2 =5.72, P =0.06). Treatment initiated during the second trimester could strengthen the success of mother-to-child transmission blockage. LdT treatment during pregnancy is safe for both mothers and infants in the long term.

Low birthweight newborns in Vanuatu: A longitudinal follow‐up study

Medical care and technology have increased the survival of low birthweight babies (LBW), but especially in low- and middle-income settings the longer term thriving of such babies is not assured because of their fragility, limited services and difficult access after discharge from hospital. In Vanuatu, a Pacific nation of dispersed islands, improving LBW outcomes and survival remains a significant challenge. In this study, we prospectively document the survival, developmental and nutritional outcomes of a cohort of LBW over the first year of life. We also explored the mother's experiences of caring for an LBW baby in hospital and at home. A prospective descriptive cohort study of 49 newborns weighing less than 2.5 kg, born between April and August 2019. Data were recorded on their hospital stay, and they were followed up at 6 and 12 months post-discharge and outcomes recorded. Developmental milestones were assessed using the Denver Developmental Screening Test, using milestones appropriate for corrected age. Qualitative interviews were conducted to identify experiences and challenges the mothers faced in caring for their LBW baby. The mean birthweight was 1800 g at 35 weeks gestation (between 2nd and 9th centile). At 6 months of age the median weight was 6.5 kg (9th centile) and at 12 months it was 7.8 kg (9th centile). Three infants died in the first 6 months post-discharge. By 12 months of age, the proportion of infants who had achieved milestones of social and emotional (90%), language and communication (97%), cognition (85%) and motor (69%) development. One had evidence of retinopathy, and 19 had clinical anaemia. Mothers identified several stressors that they attributed as risk factors for premature delivery and outlined the difficulties and isolation of caring for an LBW baby. It is vital that all LBW babies are followed up in the years after discharge: nutritional, developmental and general health outcomes were generally good; however, post-discharge deaths are more common in this group than in the general population. Equally important is the support for mothers of LBW babies to achieve better outcomes.

Predicting the Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Extremely Preterm Newborns Using a Multimodal Prognostic Model Including Brain Function Information

Early assessment of the prognosis of preterm newborns is crucial for accurately informing parents and making treatment decisions. The currently available prognostic models rarely incorporate functional brain information from conventional electroencephalography (cEEG). To examine the performance of a multimodal model combining (1) brain function information with (2) brain structure information (cranial ultrasonography), and (3) perinatal and (4) postnatal risk factors for the prediction of death or neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) in extremely preterm infants. Preterm newborns (23-28 weeks' gestational age) admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Amiens-Picardie University Hospital were retrospectively included (January 1, 2013, to January 1, 2018). Risk factors from the 4 categories were collected during the first 2 weeks post delivery. Neurodevelopmental impairment was assessed at age 2 years with the Denver Developmental Screening Test II. No or moderate NDI was considered a favorable outcome. Death or severe NDI was considered an adverse outcome. Data analysis was performed from August 26, 2021, to March 31, 2022. After the selection of variables significantly associated with outcome, 4 unimodal prognostic models (considering each category of variable independently) and 1 multimodal model (considering all variables simultaneously) were developed. After a multivariate analysis for models built with several variables, decision-tree algorithms were run on each model. The areas under the curve for decision-tree classifications of adverse vs favorable outcomes were determined for each model, compared using bootstrap tests, and corrected for type I errors. A total of 109 newborns (58 [53.2% male]) born at a mean (SD) gestational age of 26.3 (1.1) weeks were included. Among them, 52 (47.7%) had a favorable outcome at age 2 years. The multimodal model area under the curve (91.7%; 95% CI, 86.4%-97.0%) was significantly higher than those of the unimodal models (P < .003): perinatal model (80.6%; 95% CI, 72.5%-88.7%), postnatal model (81.0%; 95% CI, 72.6%-89.4%), brain structure model (cranial ultrasonography) (76.6%; 95% CI, 67.8%-85.3%), and brain function model (cEEG) (78.8%; 95% CI, 69.9%-87.7%). In this prognostic study of preterm newborns, the inclusion of brain information in a multimodal model was associated with significant improvement in the outcome prediction, which may have resulted from the complementarity of the risk factors and reflected the complexity of the mechanisms that interfered with brain maturation and led to death or NDI.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTING STYLE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background:&lt;/strong&gt; Parenting styles for children are given from an early age, which is a way of educating children to form personalities that will be carried into adulthood. Parenting styles will affect children's development both in gross motor and fine motor skills, personal and social interactions, and language.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective:&lt;/strong&gt; The aim of the study was to determine the strength of the relationship between parenting style and the development of pre-school children at Posyandu Kaliboto Karanganyar.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Method:&lt;/strong&gt; The research method is quantitative and cross-sectional. At Kaliboto Posyandu, the under-five population was studied by taking samples using the Slovin formula and obtaining 85 respondents who met the criteria of being parents and having children under the age of five (aged 3-5 years). The instruments used were a questionnaire for parents and the Denver Development Screening Test (DDST) sheet to measure children. Data analysis using Spearman&lt;em&gt; rank&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Result:&lt;/strong&gt; The results showed that 57.6% of parents practiced democratic parenting, and 62.4% of children under the age of five showed normal child development. The results of bivariate analysis with Spearman&lt;em&gt; Rank obtained&lt;/em&gt; a p value of 0.000 and a positive correlation coefficient value of 0.547.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/strong&gt; There is a relationship between parenting style and the development of medium-strength preschool-aged children at Posyandu Kaliboto. The parenting style applied by the majority is democratic, and the majority of preschool-aged children are normal. It is expected to be the basis for parents to apply parenting in a democratic manner in order to optimize the development of preschool children.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;