Prevalence and factors associated with parental concerns about development detected by the Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) at 6-month, 12-month and 18-month well-child checks in a birth cohort.
Early identification of developmental vulnerability is vital. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of moderate or high developmental risk on the Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) at 6-month, 12-month and 18-month well-child checks; identify associated risk factors; and examine documentation of the PEDS at well-child checks.



A prospective birth cohort of 2025 children with 50% of those approached agreeing to participate. Demographic data were obtained via questionnaires and linked electronic medical records. Telephone interviews were conducted with parents to collect PEDS data.



Multiple logistic regression analyses identified risk factors for moderate or high developmental risk on the PEDS. A Cumulative Risk Index examined the impact of multiple risk factors on developmental risk and documentation of the PEDS at the well-child checks.



Of the original cohort, 792 (39%) had 6-month, 649 (32%) had 12-month and 565 (28%) had 18-month PEDS data. Parental concerns indicating moderate or high developmental risk on the PEDS were 27% (95% CI 24 to 30) at 6 months, 27% (95% CI 24 to 30) at 12 months and 33% (95% CI 29 to 37) at 18 months. Factors associated with moderate or high developmental risk were perinatal risk (OR 12 months: 1.7 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.7)); maternal Middle Eastern or Asian nationality (OR 6 months: 1.6 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.4)), (OR 12 months: 1.7 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.7)); and household disadvantage (OR 6 months: 1.5 (95% CI 1.0 to 2.2). As the number of risk factors increased the odds increased for high or moderate developmental risk and no documentation of the PEDS at well-child checks.



Children with multiple risk factors are more likely to have parental concerns indicating developmental vulnerability using the PEDS and for these concerns to not be documented.
Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Susan
S
Woolfenden
Academic Unit of Child Psychiatry, South West Sydney Local Health District (AUCS), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia School of Psychiatry & Ingham Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Valsamma
V
Eapen
Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Epidemiology Group, Healthy People and Places Unit, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Bin
B
Jalaludin
School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Andrew
A
Hayen
School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Western Sydney, Penrith South DC, New South Wales, Australia.
Lynn
L
Kemp
Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, South Australia, Australia.
Cheryl
C
Dissanyake
Early Years Research Group, Ingham Institute, Sydney South West Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Alexandra
A
Hendry
Academic Unit of Child Psychiatry, South West Sydney Local Health District (AUCS), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Emma
E
Axelsson
Academic Unit of Child Psychiatry, South West Sydney Local Health District (AUCS), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Bronwyn
B
Overs
Community Paediatrics, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
John
J
Eastwood
Academic Unit of Child Psychiatry, South West Sydney Local Health District (AUCS), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Rudi
R
Črnčec
Sydney South West Local Health District, Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Anne
A
McKenzie
Office of Kids and Families (NSW Health), North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Deborah
D
Beasley
Office of Kids and Families (NSW Health), North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Elisabeth
E
Murphy
Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, South Australia, Australia Developmental Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, South Australia, Australia Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, South Australia, Australia.
Katrina
K
Williams
D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires