Early childhood stimulation: effects on children with social and biological vulnerability

Children with socioeconomic vulnerability and underlying health conditions are at an increased risk of developmental delays. This study aimed to assess the development of children aged 0 to 5 years enrolled in a State Center for Specialized Care, identify potential factors associated with each child's developmental status, and implement and evaluate the impact of a developmental stimulation protocol, targeting the children's caregivers. A total of 117 children (50.3% male and 49.7% female), aged 0 to 5 years, were included in the study. Their racial/ethnic distribution was as follows: 33.1% White, 50.8% Mixed-race, and 16.1% Black. Developmental assessments were conducted, and stimulation interventions (based on the Denver Developmental Screening Test) were concurrently proposed to the parents. A significant proportion (52.13%) of the children met the criteria for probable developmental delay. Language development was the most affected area, followed by gross motor function. After the initial intervention, the prevalence of children in the probable delay group decreased to 14.41%. Early promotion of child development demonstrated effectiveness in improving the short-term development of socially disadvantaged children with comorbidities.