Risk of Global Developmental Delay in Infants Born from Mothers with COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study

• Published in: International journal of women's health Vol. 15; pp. 467 - 474
• Main Authors: Silva, Pedro Ykaro Fialho, Lima da Cruz, Maria Clara, Guerra Azevedo, Ingrid, Moreira, Rafaela Silva, Sousa, Klayton Galante, Pereira, Silvana Alves
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2023; Dove; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Children; covid-19; Health aspects; infant development; infant well-being; Infants (Newborn); Medical records; Original Research; Pregnant women; Social aspects; Surveys; Brazil; COVID-19; infant well-being; infant development
• DOI: 10.2147/IJWH.S389291
• ISSN: 1179-1411

To investigate the risk of global developmental delay in infants born from mothers with COVID-19. A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and November 2021, with 54 infants of both sexes aged between 1 and 12 months. Twenty-seven infants born from mothers diagnosed with COVID-19 during pregnancy composed the COVID-19 group, whereas infants born from mothers not exposed to COVID-19 composed the control group. Medical records and child health booklets provided neonatal and prenatal data. The Survey of Wellbeing of Young Children screened the risk of global developmental delay during a phone interview or home visit. Chi-squared, Mann-Whitney test, and binary logistic regression were applied. The risk of motor developmental delay was identified in 15 infants (12 in the COVID-19 group), while 36 were at risk of behavioral alteration (22 in the COVID-19 group). The COVID-19 group presented a 6.3-fold risk of motor developmental delay. Motor developmental delay was also significantly associated with socioemotional alterations (odds ratio = 6.4, p = 0.01). Regarding families of infants in the COVID-19 group, 63% of the mothers presented risk of depression, 51.9% risk of substance abuse, 40.7% risk of food insecurity, and 7.4% risk of domestic violence. The inflexibility subscale of the survey was a statistically relevant variable for the socioemotional domain. Infants born from mothers with COVID-19 were at high risk of motor developmental delay and socioemotional alterations. Although, this study fills an important gap in the literature regarding the influence of maternal exposure to COVID-19 on infant development, new studies screening families with infants at risk of developmental delay may significantly impact maternal and child health-related indicators, such as physical health, emotional development and social behavior.