A cross-sectional study addressing the cognitive development of two-year-old children

Rawzatul Zannat 1, Azizur Rahman Sharaque 2, *, Marzan Sultana 1, Sumaiya Samad 1, Asraful Alam 3, Irfan Nowroze Noor 1 and Abul Masud Md Nurul Karim 1

1 Department of Maternal and Child Health, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
2 Department of Public health and Informatics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
3 Department of Medicine, Sir Salimullah Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
 
Research Article
World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2023, 15(01), 107–112.
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjbphs.2023.15.1.0309
Publication history: 
Received on 02 June 2023; revised on 10 July 2023; accepted on 13 July 2023
 
Abstract: 
Background: Cognitive skills of children advance throughout all stages of development, progressing from simple, concrete representations to complex, abstract beliefs and attitudes. These early years of cognitive development plays an important role in their mental and emotional health across the lifespan. This study aimed to assess the cognitive development of two-year-old children.
Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University among 318 conveniently selected mothers having two-year-old children. Socio-demographic information of the participant and the evaluation of the cognitive development of their two-year-old child was done by using a pretested, interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire, modified according to cultural context for better adaptability from Parent Report of Children’s Abilities-Revised (Child’s play) and Ages & Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional, Second Edition through a face-to-face interview.
Results: The mean age of the mothers was 26.29 years. Among the two-year aged children of the respondents, 53.1% were male & 46.9% were female. Most children (83.3%) belong to first or second birth order. The study found that among the two-year aged children of the respondents, 10.7% had severely delayed cognitive development, 6.6% were moderately delayed, and mild delayed cognitive development was found among 14.2%. Most (61%) of the children’s cognitive development was at the standard level, and 7.5% showed above-average development.
Conclusion: About one-third of children included in this study were found to have mild to severe cognitive developmental delay, which calls for further assessment at the national level for a better understanding of children's cognitive development and the need for intervention.
 
Keywords: 
Cognitive development; PARCA-R; ASQ:SE-2; Two-year-old children; Bangladesh
 
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