Exploration of the global developmental delay cues in children through peer-related interactions among pre-schoolers in school environments Global developmental delay cues in children
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Abstract
The study explored if and extents to which peer-related interactions provide signs of global developmental delays and suggest the appropriate measures (if any). It involved six hundred and twelve 612 respondents among which five hundred and fifty-eight (n=558) were preschoolers randomly selected using the lottery method and fifty-four (n=54) teachers conveniently selected. Mixed approach with a cross-sectional design, using observation for preschoolers and interview for teachers, the analysis made using ANOVA and Chi-square, with a statistically significant p-value of p≤ .05 and confidence level of 0.95(CL of 95%) with the application of SPSS version 20 and thematic content analysis. Only 3.2% of preschoolers were in very serious delays in the cognitive domain on communication difficulties showing no significant difference in sex and their class level, 14.5% in physical delays with an inability to perform simple tasks significantly with their age and 1.4% showed behavioural delays as they always need reprimanded, restless and prolonged tantrums while 0.7% were unable to participate in discussions significantly with their age and sex. Above 50% of teachers suggested about Early Intervention (EI) to children with developmental delay signals. Interactions should start to children below school age for Early Stimulation (ES), additionally, parents and caregivers are to be provided with guidelines from experts as a way to identify and or resolve the problem, a longitudinal study can be done on developmental delay cues from the age of three to eight years can be conducted, but also large sample from the survey could be used for generalisation.
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