Pandemic exposure tied to delayed childhood development

Children exposed to the pandemic are likely to exhibit a development delay at age 5 years, according to a study.

For the study, researchers conducted baseline surveys of children between 1 and 5 years of age in a Japanese municipality. Using the Kinder Infant Development Scale (KIDS), child development was evaluated at age 3 or 5 years and compared between cohorts that were and were not exposed to the pandemic during follow-up. All children were followed for 2 years.

The analysis included 447 children (55.0 percent boys) aged 1 year at baseline and were followed up to age 3 years, and 440 children (54.5 percent) aged 3 years at baseline were followed up to age 5 years.

During the follow-up, the cohorts exposed vs not exposed to the pandemic were 4.39 months behind in development at age 5 years (coefficient, −4.39, 95 percent credible interval [CrI], −7.66 to −1.27). This was not observed in development at age 3 years (coefficient, 1.32, 95 percent CrI, −0.44 to 3.01).

There were notable variations in development, with variations greater during than before the pandemic, regardless of age.

The quality of care at nursery centres was positively associated with development at age 3 years during the pandemic (coefficient, 2.01, 95 percent CrI, 0.58–3.44), while parental depression appeared to strengthen the association between the pandemic and delayed development at age 5 years (coefficient of interaction, −2.62, 95 percent CrI, −4.80 to −0.49; p=0.009).

The present data highlight the importance of identifying children with developmental delays associated with the pandemic and provide them with support for learning, socialization, physical and mental health, and family support.