Remote developmental screening in early childhood: Identifying missed milestones

The present study examined childhood development, focusing on the prevalence of suspected developmental delay and its associations with child, maternal, and social factors. The sample comprised 497 mothers and their 557 children (aged 1 to 65 months) living in Brazil. The child development outcome was evaluated online using the Survey of Well-Being of Young Children screening tool. The predictor variables were the following: child age, sex, and birth status; maternal adverse childhood experiences, depressive symptoms, parental sense of competence, and education level; and family income. According to mothers’ perceptions, 26% of children presented suspected developmental delay. Among mothers, 21% reported depressive symptoms, and 80% had a history of childhood adversities, with a high parental sense of competence. In this study sample, the logistic regression revealed that children’s male sex and preterm birth were risk factors for developmental delay. In contrast, maternal older age, higher education, and income were protective factors. These findings highlight the need for targeted preventive interventions that account for these factors.