Preliminary Validation of a New Developmental Screening Tool for Neurodevelopmental Delay in HIV-Infected South African Children

Abstract

Screening for developmental delays among HIV-infected children is not routine in most pediatric HIV clinics in Africa because of the lack of locally adaptable, simple, sensitive and rapid screening tools. The Division of Developmental Pediatrics of the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital developed a tool for rapid screening of moderate to severe global developmental delays among HIV-infected children aged 9 to 36 months. The diagnostic accuracy of the novel screening tool was evaluated. Forty-seven HIV-infected children aged 9 to 36 months were screened using the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital developmental screening tool. Full developmental assessments of same children were performed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition. The Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital tool's sensitivity was 78.5%, specificity 54.6%, positive predictive value was 42.6%, and negative predictive value was 85.4%. The Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital screening tool was adequately sensitive and therefore recommended for screening of moderate to severe developmental delays among HIV-infected children.

Cross‐cultural assessment of HIV‐associated cognitive impairment using the Kaufman assessment battery for children: a systematic review

“…Despite this state of affairs, HIV-infected children are not routinely screened or formally assessed for cognitive delays or deficits. Although Boyede and colleagues [12] reported on the validation of a screening tool for rapid screening of moderate-to-severe global developmental delays in HIV-infected South African children, that tool is suitable only for those aged 9-36 months, and has not been validated for use elsewhere. Furthermore, although screening tools are useful in offering a basic determination of the presence or absence of cognitive deficits, they often lack the sensitivity and the theoretical framework required of comprehensive diagnostic instruments, and cannot deliver in-depth critical analysis of potential deficits [13,14].…”

Can Touch Screen Tablets be Used to Assess Cognitive and Motor Skills in Early Years Primary School Children? A Cross-Cultural Study

“…For example, cognitive assessments, including motor skills, executive function, and language abilities, have been developed specifically for Zambia (Serpell, 1974; Ezeilo, 1978; Fink et al, 2013), rural Kenya (Kitsao-Wekulo et al, 2012), Bangladesh (Khan et al, 2013), and Malawi (Gladstone et al, 2009, 2010) populations. Assessment designed to determine young children's developmental milestones have also been developed in South Africa (Boyede et al, 2016), Malawi (Gladstone et al, 2009, 2010), Kenya (Prado et al, 2010), Nigeria (Eseigbe, 2013), and Cambodia (Ngoun et al, 2012). …”

“…These assessments are designed to be administered by trained assessors and usually involve observational checklists (e.g., Gladstone et al, 2009, 2010; Boyede et al, 2016), parental reports (e.g., Ngoun et al, 2012), or require a battery of specific resources (e.g., Jukes and Grigorenko, 2010). These methods, while insightful, can be expensive and timely to administer, and usually focus on measuring developmental milestones that typify early child development prior to school entry (Gladstone et al, 2009, 2010).…”

Developmental delay in a resource-constrained environment: Screening, surveillance and diagnostic assessment

“…Feasibility of developmental screening tools used in LMICs at a PHC has been previously reported. 13 Additional screening tools for LMICs such as the Red Cross War Memorial Children Hospital Developmental Screening Tool for Neurodevelopmental Delay in HIV-Infected South African Children 14 and Guide for Monitoring Child Development 15 are free and do not require formal training. The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-Revised can be used for screening for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).…”