Prevalence of undetected developmental delays in Iranian children.

BACKGROUND: Regarding the short- and long-term benefits of early intervention for childhood developmental disorders, this study was carried out to determine the prevalence of undetected developmental delays by the standardized form of the Persian version of the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) in Iranian children. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. The study was carried out on 11 000, 4- to 60-month-old children; in 19 age groups, in 41 selected cities throughout the country. Ninety physicians were invited from each of the selected cities to Tehran in groups, and trained about the ASQ scoring, during a 2-day workshop. The questionnaires were completed at healthcare settings by parents of children who were apparently normal (lacking any gross developmental disorders) under the supervision of the physicians who consequently scored each child. The response rate was 95% (10 516 parents). RESULTS: Among the 10 516 children studied, 5035 (47.87%) were girls. The average percentage of children delayed in the communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving and social-personal domains was 3.87%, 4.04%, 4.31%, 4.15% and 3.69%, respectively, when considering the Iranian cut-off points. In the 19 age-domain groups, most frequently in the personal-social and fine motor domains (in terms of domains), and also most frequently at 36 and 48 months of age (in terms of age ranges), girls showed significantly higher scores than boys. Boys showed significantly higher scores in two age-domain groups (gross motor domain at 20 and 22 months of age). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of undetected developmental delays in Iranian children screened by the ASQ questionnaires ranged from 3.69% to 4.31% in different developmental domains.

The Effects of Health Education through Face To Face Teaching and Educational Movies, on Suburban Women in Childbearing Age.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to compare the effects of 'face-to-face education' and 'educational movies' on 'knowledge' and 'practice' of women of child-bearing-age, in terms of health-care during pregnancy and during infancy in a suburban region near Tehran City, Iran. METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, the sample included 873 married women. Questionnaires for knowledge and practice assessment were designed. The women were assigned to three groups: control (group I), face-to-face education (group II), and educational movie (group III). Knowledge questionnaires were completed before and immediately after intervention. Practice questionnaires were completed before and three months after intervention. Both questionnaires consisted of two types of questions: type A (concerning infant care issues) and type B (concerning prenatal health care). RESULTS: There was a significant difference in post-test knowledge between groups I and II and between groups I and III, but not between groups II and III. In terms of post-test practice, the changes were determined for every individual question, and significantly, better results were seen in group II, especially concerning type B questions. CONCLUSION: Face to face education lead to better practice than educational movies. In addition, significantly better practice occurred regarding child health care issues rather than prenatal issues in both groups. Realistic and tangible issues, those easy to practice, and with little or no economical burden imposed on the family, progressed from the knowledge state to the practice state more successfully in both groups.