The relationship between child development and small for gestational age among preschool children

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the impact of small for gestational age (SGA) on the development of Taiwanese preschool children using the Chinese Child Developmental Inventory (CCDI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 982 children were enrolled in this study between June 2011 and December 2015. The samples were divided into two groups: SGA (n = 116, mean age = 2.98) and non-SGA (n = 866, mean age = 3.33) groups. The development scores were based on the CCDI, which consist of eight dimensions of development between the two groups. The linear regression analysis was adopted to examine the relationship of SGA with child development. RESULTS: On average, the children in the SGA group scored less in all eight subitems of the CCDI than those in the non-SGA group. However, regression analysis revealed that there was no significant difference in both performance and delay frequency in the CCDI between the two groups. CONCLUSION: SGA children had similar developmental scores in CCDI as non-SGA children for preschool age in Taiwan.