Factor Associated with Early Childhood Development in Regional Health Area 9 in 2021

Abstract

The purpose in this research was to assess the situations and factors associated with early childhood development in Regional Health Area 9. Subjects were early childhood children, ages 9 months to 5 years 11 months and 29 days and children’s parents/caregivers, totaling 553 samples. The samples were selected through a multi-stage stratified sampling. Denver II questionnaire, demographic information and medical history were obtained through maternal and child health record books and Denver II developmental screening test. The data were collected from March to June 2021.

Results showed that about 81.4% of the samples had appropriate development for their age, with 85% of children ages 0-2 years and 78.2% of children ages 3-5 years having appropriate development for their age in each age group. Factors associated with early childhood development included personal characteristics and mother's health during pregnancy factors such as gestational age at birth and whether mothers having complications during pregnancies. Early childhood factors that were found associated with child development included child’s age and gender. Environment factors and children raising that associated with child development included whether parents/caregivers sang lullabies to their children or their promotion behaviors according to the developmental surveillance and promotion Manual (DSPM). The results suggested for the prevention premature labor and guidelines for screening and caring for pregnant women at risk of complications should be developed while training skills for parents or child caregivers to promote and monitor child development should be provided.