Prevalence of Developmental Delays Among Under-Five Children in Taraba State, North East Nigeria: A Community-Based Survey

Early identification of developmental delays is essential for timely intervention and improved long-term outcomes in children. However, developmental surveillance remains inadequate in many Nigerian communities due to limited awareness and assessment capacity. This community-based cross-sectional study estimates the prevalence of developmental delays among children aged 0 to 59 months in Jalingo and Wukari local government areas of Taraba State, North East Nigeria. A total of 310 children were screened using the Denver Developmental Screening Test-II (DDST-II) administered by trained community health workers. Caregiver questionnaires captured sociodemographic data, birth history, nutritional status, and illness history. Overall, 28.4% of children screened showed developmental delays in at least one domain. Language delay was the most prevalent (19.7%), followed by gross motor delay (12.3%), fine motor delay (9.0%), and personal-social delay (8.1%). Significant risk factors for developmental delay included prematurity, birth asphyxia, history of severe malnutrition, and absence of early stimulation activities at home. Male sex was associated with higher prevalence of developmental delay (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.4). The study recommends integration of developmental screening into routine child health services, caregiver training on stimulation activities, and expansion of referral pathways for children identified with delays. Keywords: developmental delay, DDST-II, under-five, Taraba State, North East Nigeria.