Screening for Developmental Delays in Children 2-36 Months of Age in a Primary Health Care Center in Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Developmental delays (DDs) in children are rising and necessitate routine screening for early recognition and management. Objective(s): To estimate the prevalence of developmental delays among children 2-36 months of age in a Primary Health Care (PHC) center in Cairo, Egypt. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Saraya El-Koba PHC center involving 193 children 2-36 months of age. Data were collected using Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) to assess five domains of development: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social. Some parents’ characteristics were also included. Results : Frequency of developmental delays was 9.3%. The domains with the most frequent delays were the communication and gross motor (3.1% each) and the least was the fine motor domain (1.04%). Girls scored significantly higher than boys in the problem-solving domain (p=0.037). First to third order of birth had higher communication and social scores (p=0.025, p=0.003 respectively). Highly educated mothers had children with higher fine motor and total developmental scores (p<0.001 and 0.014 respectively), while highly educated fathers had children with higher communication scores (p=0.009). Duration of breast feeding was positively correlated with gross motor and social scores (p=0.001, p=0.042 respectively). Conclusion: The frequency of DDs was 9.3%. This prevalence is considered high compared to previous studies. It showed several associated factors and recommended early screening of preschool children for prompt recognition and timely intervention.