Page 63 - Demo

Typical and atypical child development
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JAKIDS has followed 10,000 children, born July to September 2011, and their families, from the antenatal period. Children’s social and family circumstances, as well as health, development and behaviour have been evaluated before birth and at birth, 9 months and 18 months. JAKIDS Phase I studied the first two years of children’s lives, when the main environment is the home. Among other findings, the first phase identified limited toys and other material to stimulate cognitive development in children’s homes at 18 months. Children’s development was already determined by the level of maternal education. Additionally, children were already exposed to harsh punishment; more than 60% were shouted at or slapped, but this was more prominent for boys, and did not vary with maternal education. Time spent playing with mother and the number of early childhood resources were positively associated with higher development scores. Among the policy implications that emerged were the need for inclusion of material on understanding normal child development, promoting positive parent-child interactions, stimulating cognitive development through play, and understanding gender differences in parenting programmes for parents of young children.
The JAKIDS study has a special focus on fatherhood, as absentee fathers is an identified problem in Jamaica. Samms-Vaughan’s research team investigated relationship quality shortly after the birth of children, and found that relationship quality was the most consistent predictor of men’s sexuality, with men in higher quality relationships reporting higher sexual satisfaction, fewer sexual partners, and higher frequency of sex with partners.
JAKIDS Phase II, currently in progress, studies both the home and early childhood school environments between the ages of 48-54 months, when readiness of children for life and learning is typically determined. Readiness is the result of the provision of comprehensive and integrated environment and services that meet the social, emotional, motor and cognitive needs of the developing brain.
Information from Phases I and II will further our understanding of the factors that promote and impair optimal child outcome. This will enable the country to identify and build on existing strengths, and target interventions and policies to mitigate risks. The study will also inform regional and international policy and practice, as many Caribbean countries and other LMICs that do not have the capacity to plan and/or implement cohort studies, are likely to find the information generated relevant to their own societies.
Atypical child development: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the commonest developmental disorder of childhood, affecting one (1) in 45 children. Autism research focusses on two areas: identifying causative factors aimed at reducing the number of children diagnosed with ASD, and identifying successful interventions aimed at improving the outcome of those diagnosed. Though the aetiology is unknown, the disorder is believed to be caused by gene environment interactions. The research team investigated glutathione genes and heavy metals as aetiological agents. There was no significant association between blood lead or blood manganese concentration and ASD independently. However, high blood manganese levels were synergistic with one of the glutathione transferase genes, resulting in a six times higher likelihood of ASD. Factors associated with relatively higher blood manganese levels in Jamaican children include high fish and tuber (for example, yams) intake.
Atypical child development: Blood lead levels
The research group also found a 62% fall in blood lead concentrations in Jamaican children over the last two decades. However, blood lead levels of Jamaican children are still twice that of developed countries, and are associated with living in high vehicular traffic areas. Additionally, higher umbilical cord blood lead levels are associated with lower newborn head circumference, as in developed countries.
Recognising Outstanding Researchers 2016