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Developmental Delay in Ethiopian Preschoolers

The study aimed to determine the prevalence of developmental delay among children aged 48-59 months in Ethiopia. The prevalence of developmental delay was found to be 4.6%, highest in communication at 5.6%, and lowest in personal-social development at 1.6%. Having toys and variety of toys increased development, while chronic illness decreased development. Nutrition, as measured by middle upper arm circumference, was also positively associated with development.

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7 views2 pages

Developmental Delay in Ethiopian Preschoolers

The study aimed to determine the prevalence of developmental delay among children aged 48-59 months in Ethiopia. The prevalence of developmental delay was found to be 4.6%, highest in communication at 5.6%, and lowest in personal-social development at 1.6%. Having toys and variety of toys increased development, while chronic illness decreased development. Nutrition, as measured by middle upper arm circumference, was also positively associated with development.

Uploaded by

werku
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Abstract

Background: The initial five years of a child's life is the most rapid and crucial period for
physical and cognitive development. The preschool years are a critical turning point when
children's developmental progress can be identified and assessed. Developmental screening has
been implemented as a quality enhancement measure for children. However, there is a lack of
information regarding the developmental status of children in Ethiopiaa. Therefore, this study
aimed to determine the prevalence of developmental delay and identify the factors influencing it
among children aged 48-59 months in in Wollega, Ethiopia.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was used to determine the


developmental delay among 304 children in Nekemte, Gimbi and Shambu towns from June to
July, 2023. The study participants were randomly using a lottery method. Data was entered into
Epi Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Linear logistic regression was
applied to determine the association between the level of development and independent
variables. Summary statistics was done with corresponding 95% credible interval in the linear
regression model to declare the statistical significance of the explanatory variables.

Results: The prevalence of developmental delay is 4.6% meanwhile it is highest (5.6%) in


communication followed by gross motor (4.6%) and lowest (1.6%) in personal-social domain.
The model is 62% effective to assess the effects of the significant variables on the level of
development in children aged 45-48 months. These explanatory variables are having toys and
toys in varieties increase the level of development by 18.6 units (p < 0.001) and 44.8 units
(p=0.04). Additionally, children receiving treatment or on follow-up due to chronic diseases
experience a significant decrease in their level of development by 24.62 units (p=0.042).
Furthermore, a one-centimeter increase in middle upper arm circumference is significantly
associated with a 6-unit increase in child development (p = 0.003).

Conclusion: The study found a relatively low prevalence of developmental delay. However,
there are still areas of concern, particularly in the communication and gross motor domains.
Educating caregivers about the importance of providing high-quality and varied toys for their
children is crucial for promoting early childhood development. Additionally, raising awareness
about the significance of early developmental screening and identifying risk factors for
developmental delay can help in early intervention and support for children who may need
additional assistance. These efforts can contribute to the overall well-being and optimal
development of children in the community.

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