Associated factors with developmental delay of under 5 year old children in hamadan, iran: A case-control study

Abstract

Aims Early childhood development is one of the priority areas of social determinants of health. A wide range of factors influence a child’s development. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with developmental delay in children under 5 years. Instrument & Methods This study was a case-control study that conducted from April to August 2019 in Hamadan city. 462 children under 5 years and their mothers participated (231 children that have a developmental delay in the case group and 231 healthy children in the control group). The risk factors assessed were demographic characteristics, mothers’ awareness, and childhood developmental care. The data analysis were performed using Logistic Regression by Stata11 software and a significant level of 5% was considered. Findings The results showed that there were statistically significant relation between the developmental delay with mothers’ age (OR=1.04, 95%CI:1.00-1.08), history of child hospitalization (OR=2.57, 95%CI:1.63-4.05), tobacco use by parents (OR=2.09, 95%CI:1.20-3.64), and mothers’ awareness (OR=0.44, 95%CI:-0.25-0.82). Conclusions The educational program designed based on the Health Belief Model is effective in improving mothers’ beliefs and enhancing the safety behavior of mothers in preventing children’s accidents. Mothers with children under 5 years need to be educated on various aspects of development and caregiving behaviors that protect their children from developmental delays, and the Identify these factors can help planners to reduce developmental delays and their effects.