Preschoolers’ Developmental Profiles and School-Readiness in a Low-Income Canadian City: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Chantal Camden, Léa Héguy, Megan Casoli, Mathieu Roy, Lisa Rivard, Jade Berbari, Research Team Ppop and Mélanie Couture
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Chantal Camden: School of Rehabilitation, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l’Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
Léa Héguy: Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, 12e Avenue N Porte 6, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
Megan Casoli: School of Rehabilitation, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l’Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
Mathieu Roy: Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de l’Estrie—Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, 300 Rue King E, Sherbrooke, QC J1G 1B1, Canada
Lisa Rivard: School of Rehabilitation, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
Jade Berbari: Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, 12e Avenue N Porte 6, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
Research Team Ppop: Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, 12e Avenue N Porte 6, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
Mélanie Couture: School of Rehabilitation, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l’Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-11

Abstract: A joint initiative between community and public health stakeholders in a low-income Canadian city was created to describe the developmental profiles of children aged 2–5 years. A two-phase, cross-sectional design was used. Children’s development was assessed using an online screening procedure. Those at risk of delays were invited for a school-readiness face-to-face brief assessment. Descriptive and exploratory analyses were conducted. In Phase 1, 223 families were screened; 100 children were at risk of delays (45%); 13% were at risk in ≥3 developmental domains; 26% were at risk in the fine motor domain. Risk of delay was associated with parental concerns, accessing more healthcare professionals, and using fewer public health/community programs. Lower incomes, and not attending day care showed trends towards an increased risk of delay. In Phase 2, 49 children were assessed; 69% were at risk of school-readiness delays; 22% had potential motor delays; 37% were at risk in the social domain. This study found a higher proportion of children at risk of delay than typically reported. Creating community partnerships could help identify all children needing developmental and school-readiness support. More research is needed to ensure these community-based partnerships are integrated into health/community programs responding to children’s needs and parental concerns.

Keywords: child development; screening; early intervention; vulnerable populations; motor skills; community health services (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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