Association between Pre-, Intra-, and Postpartum Risk Factors with Developmental Delay in Infants: A Case-Control Study

Background: Developmental delay (DD) is an important problem in children, and recognizing the factors affecting it is very critical in diagnosing and improving development. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between pre-, intra-, and postpartum risk factors with DD in infants. Methods: In this case-control study, ۱۱۰ infants with DD and ۱۱۰ healthy infants from health centers in Rafsanjan were studied. At ۱۲ months, the developmental status of infants was assessed using the ages and stages questionnaire (ASQ) at the age of ۱۲ months. Information on risk factors was collected in a researcher-made checklist. Results: The mean age of mothers during pregnancy was ۲۸.۸۳ ± ۵.۲۷ years in the case group and ۲۹.۲۱ ± ۴.۸۶ years in the control group (P = ۰.۵۷). Frequency of diploma or less education (P <۰.۰۰۱), rural residence (P<۰.۰۰۱), preterm infants (P = ۰.۰۴۵), and pathological jaundice (P = ۰.۰۲۷) were significantly higher in the case group. There was an association between DD with maternal education level (OR = ۲.۷۴۵, ۹۵% CI: ۱.۵۸۷-۴.۷۴۷), number of pregnancies (OR = ۱.۴۹۴, ۹۵% CI: ۱.۱۵۶-۱.۹۳۰), and history of pathological neonatal jaundice (OR = ۳.۹۶۳, ۹۵% CI: ۱.۰۷۴-۱۴.۶۶۲). Conclusion: According to the results of the study, Low maternal education, more pregnancies, and a history of pathological neonatal jaundice were factors affecting DD. It is recommended that more attention be paid to risk factors to prevent future adverse events.

کلیدواژه ها:

Ages and Stages Questionnaire ، Developmental delay ، Infant ، maternal education ، More pregnancies ، Neonatal Jaundice