Identifying and Improving Developmental Delays in Children Within Central America

Author

Alyssa BlakeFollow

Date of Award

Spring 2024

Document Type

DNP Project

Project Team Faculty Member

Bernadette Sobczak

Project Team Faculty Member

Valerie Griffin

Keywords

Developmental Delays, Developmental Milestones, Central America, Guatemala, Developmental Screenings, Medical Mission Trips.

Abstract

Roughly 40% of children living in low-income countries worldwide are at an increased risk of not reaching developmental milestones. Many of these children are at risk due to lack of resources, quality healthcare, and proper developmental screenings. Short-term medical mission trips (STMMs) aim to improve the health of those residing in developing countries. However, although the U.S. does carry out many STMMs to developing countries within Central America to help improve health outcomes, pediatric developmental screenings are often not a part of routine health visits during these STMMs. This may be due to providers having a general lack of experience with pediatric patients or a lack of knowledge about cultural childrearing practices, pediatric norms, and resources available that promote development in the host country. This quality improvement project was based on evidence-based practices and aimed to use an online educational module to increase providers’ knowledge on pediatric developmental milestones in children ages 1-3 years, as well as screen children on a STMM in Guatemala for developmental delays and provide intervention to those children who are shown to be delayed. Results from pre- and post-surveys within the educational module suggest an increase in knowledge of developmental milestones post-education. Results from a qualitative survey conducted on the last day of the STMM suggest that although the screening tool provided was difficult to use due to low health literacy levels in the patient population, interventions provided to the parents and children were positive.

Recommended Citation

Blake, Alyssa, "Identifying and Improving Developmental Delays in Children Within Central America" (2024). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 339.
https://spark.siue.edu/dnpprojects/339

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