Neuropsychomotor development: the Denver scale for screening cognitive and neuromotor delays in preschoolers

• Published in: Cadernos de saúde pública Vol. 27; no. 7; pp. 1403 - 1414
• Main Authors: Brito, Cileide Mascarenhas Lopes, Vieira, Graciete Oliveira, Costa, Maria da Conceição Oliveira, Oliveira, Nelson Fernandes de
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Brazil 01-07-2011
• Subjects: Brazil - epidemiology; Child Development; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developmental Disabilities - diagnosis; Developmental Disabilities - epidemiology; Developmental Disabilities - prevention & control; Educational Status; Female; Humans; Male; Prenatal Care; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Brazil
• ISSN: 1678-4464
• DOI: 10.1590/S0102-311X2011000700015

This study investigated the prevalence of abnormal neuropsychomotor developmental performance and associated factors in children enrolled in the public preschool system in Feira de Santana, Bahia State, Brazil, 2009 (N = 438). This was a cross-sectional epidemiological study with random sampling of schools and children. The study analyzed associated factors with a questionnaire applied to mothers and the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) II in the preschool children. Statistical analysis used the χ(2) test with 95% confidence interval and α = 5%. Prevalence of abnormal developmental performance was 46.3%. According to logistic regression analysis, variables showing statistically significant association were: male gender (PR = 1.43; p = 0.00), age five years (PR = 1.42; p = 0.00), lack of prenatal care (PR = 1.41; p = 0.00), first prenatal visit ≥ 3 months gestation (PR = 1.25; p = 0.00), and alcohol consumption during pregnancy (PR = 1.55; p = 0.00). Prevalence of abnormal development was high, thus highlighting the need for early prenatal care, warnings against alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and early childhood monitoring, aimed at prevention or early treatment.