Effectiveness of Educational Intervention on Developmental Risk Mitigation Strategies in Toddlers Using The Denver Developmental Screening Test

Early childhood development is crucial for a child's future. Developmental delays can have long-lasting consequences, emphasizing the importance of early detection and intervention. This study aimed to enhance caregivers' knowledge and skills using the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) to identify potential developmental delays in toddlers in Sleman, Yogyakarta. A quasi-experimental design was applied with a pre-test and post-test to evaluate changes in caregivers' knowledge across key areas, including a basic understanding of DDST, its purpose and function, timing and method of administration, and strategies for mitigating developmental risks. Data were collected through a structured knowledge-based questionnaire measuring caregivers' familiarity with these domains before and after an educational intervention. The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test revealed a significant increase in caregivers' knowledge scores post-intervention, particularly in understanding the purpose, function, and practical application of DDST (p = 0.046). Moreover, caregivers reported increased confidence in using the DDST to monitor their child's development. These findings highlight the effectiveness of educational interventions in improving caregivers' knowledge and skills in using the DDST. However, further research is needed to explore the long-term impact of such interventions and examine the findings' generalizability to other settings.