Developmental Delay Among Children in Togo

Yvon Foli Agbeko ¹ *, Elom Ounoo Takassi ² , Mensah Kokou Guinhouya ³ , Akossiwa Marie Cécile Amegnaglo ² , Achraf Tchapide – Traore¹ , Bulus Jacob ¹ , Alain Rubenga Uwito ¹ , Marc Yumba Mwepu ⁴ , Ferrol Bessi Moussoumou ¹ , Amélé Déla Akpodo ¹ , Tatiano Wiyao Seku ⁵ , Francis Agbessi Etonam Kougnigan⁵ , Moussa Hamadou Boureima ⁴ , Atèhèzi Adom ⁶ , Homba Daké Batalia ⁷ , Mazama Pakoudjare¹ and Koffi Edem Djadou ⁵

¹ Paediatrics Ward, University Hospital Campus, Lomé, Togo
² Paediatrics Ward, Regional Hospital of Lome Commune, Lomé, Togo
³ Neurology Unit, University Hospital Sylvanus Olympio, Lomé, Togo
⁴ Paediatrics Ward, Bè Hospital, Lomé, Togo
⁵ Paediatrics Ward, Tsevié Regional Hospital, Tsévié, Togo
⁶ Public Health Training Center, University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo
⁷ Paediatrics Ward, Ordre de Malte hospital, Elavagnon, Togo

*Corresponding Author: Yvon Foli Agbeko, Paediatrics Ward, University Hospital Campus, Lomé, Togo.

Received: January 08, 2025; Published: January 31, 2026

Abstract

Introduction: Developmental Delay (DD) affects 5 to 10% of children, with significant implications for their quality of life. This study

aims to describe the clinical aspects of DD in children aged 0 to 5 years in Togo.

Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study on DD in children treated at the physiotherapy unit of the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital and at the National Centre for Prosthetics and Orthopaedics (CNAO) in Lomé. Patient records were analysed and interviews were conducted with the mothers of the children included in the study.

Results: The participation rate was 95.0% (38/40). The average age of the children was 11 months ± 1.8 months, with a sex ratio of 1.2. The mothers (58.0%) experienced complications, including 21.0% premature births. They reported exposure to infections (89.0%) and two out of three children (66.0%) presented with perinatal asphyxia. The diagnosis of DD was made before the age of 1 year in 60.5% of children. Delays in head control and sitting were observed in 86.8% and 84.2% of cases, respectively. Limb spasticity (73.7%), sensory disorders (42.1%) and motor coordination defects (73.7%) were present. In terms of treatment, 37 children received physiotherapy (97.4%).

Conclusion: These results demonstrate the importance of monitoring pregnancies, early screening, multidisciplinary care, and active family involvement in the prevention and management of DD.

Keywords: Psychomotor Delay; Child; Togo

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Citation

Citation: Yvon Foli Agbeko., et al. “Developmental Delay Among Children in Togo". Acta Scientific Paediatrics 9.2 (2026): 06-10.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Yvon Foli Agbeko., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.