Attainment of Developmental Milestones Among Under-Three Years Children in Urban Lucknow: A Mixed Method Study

This study aims to assess the factors influencing developmental milestone status and the role of caregiving practices among children aged 2-36 months in urban Lucknow. It follows a mixed-methods approach, incorporating a cross-sectional study for quantitative data collection and in-depth interviews for qualitative insights. The study will be conducted in Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) across two randomly selected zones of urban Lucknow. A total of 622 children will be included, with developmental milestones assessed using the Trivandrum Developmental Screening Chart (TDSC). Socioeconomic and demographic factors will also be examined. Quantitative data will be analyzed using Jamovi version 2.3.28. Descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, median, and interquartile range (IQR), will be used based on data normality. Frequency distribution and percentages will be applied for categorical variables. The chi-square test will assess associations between categorical variables, with a statistical significance level set at p<0.05. For qualitative analysis, in-depth interviews with caregivers of children with both normal and delayed milestones will be conducted until information saturation. Audio recordings will be transcribed, translated, and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Data collection is scheduled from March to April 2025, with results expected to provide valuable insights into the impact of caregiving practices on child development, informing future interventions to support early childhood growth.