A community-based study of early childhood sensory stimulation in home environment associated with growth and psychomotor development in Pakistan |
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Authors: | Bilal Iqbal Avan Syed Ahsan Raza Betty R. Kirkwood |
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Affiliation: | 1. Informed Decisions for Actions in Maternal and Newborn Health (IDEAS), Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK 2. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada 3. Nutrition and Public Health Intervention Research Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Abstract: | Objectives Sensory stimulation (SS) is a non-nutritional modifiable risk factor for early childhood development. We assessed SS in home environment and examined its influence on physical growth and psychomotor development (PD). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 26 communities in Pakistan among children aged <3 (n = 1,219). They were assessed at home visits using (1) Bayley’s Infant Developmental Scale for PD, (2) home observation for measurement of the environment inventory for SS, (3) anthropometry and (4) socio-economic questionnaire. Results In rural homes, SS provided was lower as compared to urban counterparts (Adj mean diff: 4.47, 95 % CI 3.78, 5.16) and showed an association with stunting (Adj mean diff: ?1.30, 95 % CI ?1.93, ?0.66), and underweight (Adj mean diff: ?1.04, 95 % CI ?1.71, ?0.38) not explained by type of neighbourhood or socio-economic status. SS was associated with PD more than combined contribution of socio-economic status and rural–urban factors (Adj mean diff: 0.47, 95 % CI 0.30, 0.63). Conclusions SS in rural homes may be a significant factor influencing the child development. There is a need to corroborate these results by additional research for integration in health policy initiatives. |
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