Early Childhood Development and its Associated Ecological Factors among 3-5 years during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand
Keywords:
child development, early childhood, suspected delayed development, COVID-19Abstract
This study is a cross-sectional descriptive study aiming to 1) assess the developmental status of children aged 3–5 during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2) identify personal, interpersonal, community, and policy-level factors associated with developmental outcomes, A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 3–5-year-old Thai children recorded in the Health Data Center (HDC) from August to October 2022. Data were collected using the Developmental Surveillance and Promotion Manual (DSPM) and caregiver questionnaires. Factors were classified using Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including logistic regression, were applied.
Results showed that the prevalence of suspected developmental delays was 55.56%. The most affected areas were expressive language, receptive language, and fine motor skills. Children whose caregivers received but did not use the DSPM manual were 1.69 times more likely to experience suspected developmental delays (p < 0.001). Community support, health service systems, and COVID-19 policies significantly influenced child development.
In conclusions, multi-level factors, particularly caregiver behavior and pandemic-related disruptions, were strongly associated with developmental delays. Therefore, policy support is needed to strengthen the community-driven child development promotion system and supporting caregivers are essential for improving early childhood outcomes, especially during public health emergencies.
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