International Journal of Research and Review DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20210738 Vol.8; Issue: 7; July 2021 Website: www.ijrrjournal.com Original Research Article E-ISSN: 2349-9788; P-ISSN: 2454-2237 International Journal of Research and Review (ijrrjournal.com) 272 Vol.8; Issue: 7; July 2021 Biological Risk Factors and Early Developmental Delay Assessment in Infants Using Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Version 3 (ASQ-3) Sumandeep Kaur 1 , Navdeep S Sidhu 2 , Rajwant Kaur Randhawa 3 1 PhD Scholar, Desh Bhagat University, Mandi Gobindgarh, Tutor, University College of Nursing, Faridkot, Punjab, India 2 Assistant Professor, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab, India 3 Director & Principal, Desh Bhagat Institute of Nursing, Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab, India Corresponding Author: Navdeep S Sidhu ABSTRACT Background: Development during early years of life is very crucial in the context of overall development of an individual. This is especially true for infants who have biological risk factors for maldevelopment. This study aimed to find the association of biological risk factors and developmental delay in infants aged 3-18 months. Materials and Methods: For this study, enrolment of 460 infants was done in the age group of 3-18 months who were attending Immunization Clinic in district level Civil Hospital, Faridkot, Punjab. Developmental assessment in the five areas including Gross motor, Fine motor, Communication, Problem solving and Personal-social development was done using a standardized tool called Ages and Stages Questionnaire, version 3 (ASQ-3). Results: Most of the study subjects viz., 426 (92.6%) were born full term whereas 34 (7.3%) infants were born preterm. Mean birth weight of infants was 2.9 ± 0.387 kgs. Out of the total, 259 (56.3%) study subjects were males and 201(43.7%) were females. Biological risk factors like gestation age and birth weight had statistically significant association with all domains of developmental delay except in the area of personal social development. On the other hand, gender had no association with any domain of developmental delay. Conclusion: Gestation age and birth weight are the typical risk factors having significant impact on all domains of developmental delay except for the personal social delay. However, gender of infant had no association with developmental delay. Keywords: Infant, Gestation age, birth weight, Developmental delay, ASQ INTRODUCTION Advancements in the medical sciences have greatly improved the survival rate of high- risk newborns. This has raised an important issue related to the future development of these children. [1,2] Developmental delays are expected to occur more frequently in these high-risk infants resulting in delay in the achievement of milestones at the expected age. [3] The main causes responsible for this delay are not always clear, but most of these infants have history of some risk factors during intrauterine life or after birth. Most common factors contributing to developmental delay and infant death are prematurity, low birth weight and perinatal maternal complications. [4] According to Piek et al., the gestational age is the predominant factor affecting fine motor skills at school age. [5] Hediger et al. reported that low levels of parental education, younger age of the mother, high gravidity, low birth weight, and preterm labor are significantly associated with delayed motor and social development. [6] Due to the numerous problems associated with having a child afflicted by developmental delay, early