Introduction: A population especially overlooked in early childhood development research is the ‘missing-middle’, predominantly represented by middle-income, urban populations. Research typically focuses on populations that are either from lower- or upper socioeconomic classes. Insight into the risks, protective factors, and developmental outcomes of children from middle-income populations is needed to guide the implementation and customisation of early intervention policies and services.
Aim: The study aimed to describe the developmental outcomes of young children aged six to 24 months from an urban, middle-income setting in South Africa using a descriptive correlational research design.
Method: The Vineland-3 was used to describe the developmental outcomes of 55 children between six to 24 months, from an urban, middle-income setting in South Africa. The mHealth PEDS was used to identify caregivers’ concerns regarding their children’s development.
Results: Caregivers’ concerns were positively associated (φ = 0.355; p = .024) with their children’s overall developmental outcomes, emphasising their valuable contribution in early identification of developmental delays. Fifteen percent (n = 8) of participants’ children presented with developmental delays, with low birth weight identified as a significant developmental risk (p = .011). Within this sample population, higher maternal education was identified as a significant protective factor (p = 0.16).
Conclusion: Developmental delays, risks, strengths and protective factors exist within an urban, middle-income South African setting. Early childhood development can be promoted in all income settings by using baby wellness clinics as a point of access to identify children at risk for developmental delays through caregiver-led developmental screening. Prioritising early childhood development across different socioeconomic classes will help ensure that all children reach their full developmental potential. / Dissertation (MA (Speech-Language Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2021. / National Research Foundation (NRF) / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / MA (Speech-Language Pathology) / Unrestricted
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:up/oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/80694 |
| Date | January 2021 |
| Creators | Wrigglesworth, Megan Noléne |
| Contributors | Van der Linde, Jeannie, megannolene@gmail.com, Eccles, Renata, Du Toit, Maria |
| Publisher | University of Pretoria |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Rights | © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
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