Impact Of Nurse Led Developmental Screening Program For Early Identification Of Developmental Delay Among Under-Five Year Children In Selected Hospital, Indore, M.P.

Abstract

Background: Developmental delay in children under five years of age is a major public health concern because it affects cognitive, motor, language, and social development. Early identification through nurse-led developmental screening facilitates timely intervention and improves developmental outcomes. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of the nurse-led developmental screening program in improving early identification. Methodology: A quantitative evaluative research approach with a one-group pretest-posttest design was adopted. Fifty under-five children attending OPD in SAIMS Hospital were selected through purposive sampling. Developmental screening was conducted using a structured developmental assessment checklist. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Before screening, only 14% of children with developmental delay had been previously identified by caregivers or health workers. Following the nurse-led screening program, 30% of children were identified with suspected developmental delay requiring referral. The mean identification score significantly improved from 4.62 ±1.58 to 8.54 ±1.26 (t=15.48, p<0.001). Significant association was observed between developmental delay and age as well as birth weight (p<0.05). Conclusion: Nurse-led developmental screening significantly improved early identification of developmental delay among under-five children. Routine developmental screening should become an integral component of child health services.