Findings in Child Development in Children Who Grew Up During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Two Countries.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented situation for families worldwide, with its potential impact on child development remaining uncertain, particularly within Latin American communities. This study aimed to analyze child development in children from Costa Rica and Mexico who grew up during COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of 183 children; a historical control group of Costa Rican children (n = 171) was also included. Child development was assessed using the EDIN-II in Costa Rica and the EDI in Mexico, along with a parental questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analysis were performed, with a significance level of 0.05. Significant differences were found when comparing the risk of development delay, particularly in the overall score and the fine motor domain score. The probability of overall delay was associated with the child's sex, age, maternal education level and whether the primary caregiver role was shared by both parents or fulfilled by a single parent. In Costa Rica, the development of children assessed post-pandemic was lower than that of children assessed pre-pandemic. The probability of these delays was associated with growing up during the pandemic, child's sex, and families' Socioeconomic Development Index. These results contribute to understanding child development during the COVID-19 context and provide a foundation for future research.