Handal Alexis J, Lozoff Betsy, Breilh Jaime, Harlow Siobán D
University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2007 May;21(5):292-300. doi: 10.1590/s1020-49892007000400004.
To identify and describe the sociodemographic and nutritional characteristics associated with neurobehavioral development among young children living in three communities in the northeastern Andean region of Cayambe-Tabacundo, Ecuador.
Women in the study communities who had a child 3 to 61 months of age completed a questionnaire about maternal and child health and sociodemographic characteristics. The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) was directly administered to 283 children by two trained interviewers. Growth measurements and a hemoglobin finger-prick blood test were obtained in 2003-2004. Prevalence of developmental delay was calculated, and associations between child development and maternal, child, and household characteristics were explored.
High frequencies of developmental delay were observed. Children 3 to 23 months old displayed delay in gross motor skills (30.1%), and children 48 to 61 months old displayed delay in problem-solving skills (73.4%) and fine motor skills (28.1%). A high frequency of both anemia (60.4%) and stunting (53.4%) was observed for all age groups. Maternal educational level was positively associated with communication and problem-solving skills, and monthly household income was positively associated with communication, gross motor, and problem-solving skills.
The results suggest a high prevalence of developmental delay and poor child health in this population. Child health status and the child's environment may contribute to developmental delay in this region of Ecuador, but sociodemographic factors affecting opportunities for stimulation may also play a role. Research is needed to identify what is causing high percentages of neurobehavioral developmental delay in this region of Ecuador.
识别并描述居住在厄瓜多尔卡扬贝 - 塔巴昆多安第斯地区东北部三个社区的幼儿神经行为发育相关的社会人口学和营养特征。
研究社区中孩子年龄在3至61个月的女性完成了一份关于母婴健康和社会人口学特征的问卷。两名经过培训的访员直接对283名儿童进行了年龄与发育进程问卷（ASQ）测评。在2003年至2004年期间进行了生长指标测量和血红蛋白指尖采血检测。计算发育迟缓的患病率，并探讨儿童发育与母亲、儿童及家庭特征之间的关联。
观察到发育迟缓的高发生率。3至23个月大的儿童在大运动技能方面表现出迟缓（30.1%），48至61个月大的儿童在解决问题技能（73.4%）和精细运动技能方面表现出迟缓（28.1%）。所有年龄组均观察到高频率的贫血（60.4%）和发育迟缓（53.4%）。母亲的教育水平与沟通和解决问题技能呈正相关，家庭月收入与沟通、大运动和解决问题技能呈正相关。
结果表明该人群中发育迟缓的患病率很高且儿童健康状况不佳。儿童健康状况和儿童所处环境可能导致厄瓜多尔这个地区的发育迟缓，但影响刺激机会的社会人口学因素也可能起作用。需要开展研究来确定厄瓜多尔这个地区神经行为发育迟缓比例高的原因。
