Potential risk factors of developmental cognitive delay in the first two years of life

Bibliographic Information
Authors: Salah El Din E.M.; Rabah T.M.; Metwally A.M.; Nassar M.S.; Elabd M.A.; Shalaan A.; Kandeel W.; El Etreby L.A.; Shaaban S.Y.
Journal: Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences
Publisher: Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences
Publication Date: 7 July 2019
Volume / Issue: Volume 7 / Issue 12
Pages: 2024–2030
ISSN: 18579655
Scopus: View on Scopus
Document Type: Article
Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access
Authors and Affiliations
Salah El Din E.M., Child Health Department, Medical Division, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt; Rabah T.M., Department of Community Medicine Research, Medical Division, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt; Metwally A.M., Department of Community Medicine Research, Medical Division, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt; Nassar M.S., Child Health Department, Medical Division, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt; Elabd M.A., Child Health Department, Medical Division, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt; Shalaan A., Biological Anthropology Department, Medical Division, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt, Medical Research Centre of Excellence (MRCE), Giza, Egypt; Kandeel W., Biological Anthropology Department, Medical Division, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt, Medical Research Centre of Excellence (MRCE), Giza, Egypt, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Imbaba, Cairo, Giza, Egypt; El Etreby L.A., Department of Community Medicine Research, Medical Division, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt; Shaaban S.Y., Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The first two years of life constitute a critical period of rapid change. The events during this phase prepare the child for subsequent developmental competency. AIM: To determine the potential risk factors that affect an infant’s cognitive development in the first two years of life in a sample of Egyptian infants SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional comparative study included 655 male and female infants. Their age ranged from 3 – 24 months. Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley III) were used for cognitive assessment. Perinatal and nutritional data were recorded. Levels of serum Zinc, Copper, Iron, vitamin B12 and complete blood count (CBC) were assessed in a subsample of 193 infants. RESULTS: Infants having below the average cognitive composite score (CCS) represented 38.47% of the whole sample. The risk of having a low average (CCS) was determined by multiple factors. Poor maternal education and low family income were the most significant social risk factors (OR = 2.19, p = 0.0003; OR = 1.64, p = 0.002 respectively). Prematurity and complicated labor represented significant perinatal risks (OR = 1.22, p = 0.005; OR = 2.39, p =0.001respectively). Bottle feeding versus breastfeeding in the first six months of life was the most significant nutritional predictor of low average (CCS) (OR = 1.79, p = 0.001). Infants with low average (CCS) had significantly lower levels of serum zinc and vitamin B12 than those with average scores. CONCLUSION: Multiple factors appear to interact affecting the early cognitive development of Egyptian infants. Prematurity, complicated labour, poor maternal education, low family income and micronutrient deficiency are the main risk factors. Studying these factors is of great value in directing governmental intervention efforts. © 2019 Ebtissam M. Salah El Din, Thanaa M. Rabah, Ammal M. Metwally, Maysa S. Nassar, Mona A Elabd, Ashraf Shalaan, Wafaa Kandeel, Lobna A. El Etreby, Sanaa Y. Shaaban.
Keywords
(Bayley-III) scales; Cognitive development; Infants; Maternal education; Micronutrient deficiency; copper; cyanocobalamin; hemoglobin; iron; zinc; anthropometric parameters; Article; Bayley Scales of Infant Development; blood biochemistry; blood cell count; bottle feeding; breast feeding; child; cognition assessment; cognitive defect; comparative study; controlled study; cross-sectional study; developmental delay; educational status; family income; female; gestational age; human; infant; labor; labor complication; major clinical study; male; marriage; mineral deficiency; nutritional assessment; nutritional value; occupation; prematurity; preschool child; risk factor; socioeconomics
Citation Information
Scopus Citations: 32
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