Descriptive study on communicative development in children under 5 years of age in the O'Higgins region during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: Due to the health measures implemented because of COVID-19, contact and socialisation decreased, with infants in the midst of developing their socio-communicative skills being the most affected. This has led to the need to study the communicative characteristics of children under 5 years of age. General objective: To describe the communicative characteristics of children under 5 years of age who have lived through the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile, belonging to the O'Higgins Region. Methodology: A questionnaire was developed for the children's caregivers, in addition to the use of the Technical Guidance Guide for Child Development Support Modalities, which describes the normative communicative behaviours for each age range in child development. Both instruments were used to interview a total of 35 participants. Results: These are divided into variables related to: characteristics of the child and caregiver, and variables related to the Technical Guidance Guide for Child Development Support Modalities, where the latter are subdivided according to the different age ranges evaluated and the dimensions studied in these. Conclusion: It can be concluded that there is a decline in the oral production of infants, that is, in their expressive abilities. It is likely that health restrictions due to the pandemic have reduced the opportunity for children to socialise with their peers in communicative and social contexts.