Evaluación del desarrollo infantil con la aplicación del test de Denver II en niños de 3 a 6 años en el cantón Déleg - Ecuador, 2024 - 2025

Abstract

Introduction: Assessment of child development using the Denver II Test enables early detection of alterations in the areas of neurodevelopment. This study provides data to identify factors that affect this area. Objective: To assess psychomotor development in children aged 3–6 years using the Denver II Test in the canton of Déleg, Ecuador, during the period from November 2024 to January 2025, to identify areas of development requiring attention and to design intervention strategies. Methodology: A cross-sectional analytical observational study was conducted in the canton of Déleg involving 187 children aged 3 to 6 years, using sampling based on a finite population formula and random selection. The data were anonymized, and informed consent was obtained. Data collection included sociodemographic variables, the INEC socioeconomic stratification survey, and the Denver II Test. Data were tabulated using IBM SPSS with Chi-square tests, Cramér’s V, and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: A total of 187 children were analyzed, with an average age of 4.39 years and a predominance of females (50.8%). A total of 55.1% presented psychomotor developmental delay, primarily in language (44.4%) and fine motor skills (21.4%) (p < 0.05). Most cases were associated with low socioeconomic status (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Children’s socioeconomic status and place of residence are strongly associated with psychomotor delay. Keywords: child development, preschool, neurodevelopmental disorders, child health