COMPARISON BETWEEN AGES AND STAGES QUESTIONNAIRE-3 AND TRIVANDRUM DEVELOPMENT SCREENING CHARTS AS A SCREENING TOOL FOR DEVELOPMENT DELAY

Background: Developmental delay in children is a critical concern globally, impacting long-term outcomes and imposing significant economic burdens. Early identification and intervention are crucial for mitigating adverse effects. Objective: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of two developmental screening tools, the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 (ASQ-3) and the Trivandrum Development Screening Charts (TDSC), in identifying developmental delays in children aged 2 to 60 months. A cross-sectional study was conducted at MGM Medical College Methods: , Aurangabad, from September 2022 to January 2023, involving 220 children. Informed consent was obtained from parents or guardians. Two pediatricians screened each child using TDSC and ASQ-3, respectively. Data was analysed using SPSS software, with descriptive statistics, kappa statistics, and Cronbach's alpha to assess agreement and reliability.Results: The mean age of participants was 25.02 months and 44.5% (98/220) were female. ASQ identified 68.6% of children with developmental delays, while TDSC identified 42.3%. The highest developmental delays were observed in the 13-18 months (67.74%) and 25-36 months (63.27%) age groups. Time taken for complete assessment by ASQ-3 was 20-25 minutes and by TDSC was 5-7 minutes. Moderate agreement was found between ASQ-3 and TDSC (Kappa = 0.407). Internal consistency for ASQ delay domains ranged from moderate to good (Cronbach's alpha 0.434 to 0.667). Conclusion: The study demonstrates that ASQ-3 identified a higher percentage of developmental delays compared to TDSC, with moderate agreement between the two tools. These findings highlight the importance of using multiple screening tools for early identification of developmental delays, ensuring timely intervention and support for affected children.