Knowledge and Associated Factors Regarding Developmental Delay Among Primary Health Care Professionals in Selected Health Centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 2025

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: - Developmental delay refers to condition which a child fails to reach the developmental domains at the expected age. Child development is a maturation process that progresses sequentially through five key domains of development. Early childhood development assessment is an ongoing process of observing, collecting, documenting, and analysing data to measure a child's progress over time. General objectives: - The aim this study was to assess the knowledge and associated factors regarding developmental delay among primary health care providers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.2025. Methods: - Cross sectional study was conducted from August 1, 2025 – October 30, 2025. In selected 12 health centers and 611 healt professionals who work in out patients department, maternal and child care department and health extension Program department were randomly selected and provided a questionarie. Self administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data were collected by trained data collectors using structured questionnaires in the facility settings. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS v26. The data analysis applied both descriptive statistics and inferential. Descriptive results are presented by tables and charts. Logistic regression modeling was used for predictive statistics to determine factors affecting Knowledge of the health care professonals on dvelepemtal delay assessment skills. Result:- Among 611 respondents 75.2 % had sufficient knowledge on developmental delay assessemets. Having training on developmental delay was 5.9 fold, Having the guideline avaialeable 6.7 fold, and being Health extension worker/ certified early childhood development professionals was 9.6 fold [((AOR (95% CI) 5.89(2.4-14.3)), (AOR (95% CI) 6.68(2.8-15.4)), and (AOR (95% CI) 9.55(1.2-76.5))] consecutively showed strong positive association to a good knowledge while being Bsc nurse in educational background showed 85.1% less likely to have a good knowledge on the study matter [(AOR (95% CI) 0.149(0.040 0.54)]. Conclusion & Recommendation: -Majority of the respondents had sufficient knowledge but needed to be higher than the result. Therefore the concerned bodies should work to enhance professional training pre- employment and on job , and work on the provisions & utilizations of the guideline in every service points. Keywords: - Developmental delay, Knowledge, Associated factors, Primary health care professionals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.