Validation of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) handbook for assessing child developmental status in comparison to the Indonesian pre-screening developmental questionnaire (KPSP)

Objective: According to data from the Family and Nutrition Health Office of the Karanganyar Health Department in 2022, only 46.54% of health workers utilized instruments for Stimulation, Detection, and Early Intervention for Growth and Development (SDIDTK) to monitor developmental stages. This percentage is significantly lower than the national coverage targets of Stimulation, Detection, and Early Intervention for Growth and Development (SDIDTK) of 85%. 

Materials and Methods: This research is a descriptive observational design with a cross-sectional approach, aiming to assess the validity of child developmental status evaluations using the Maternal and Child Health Handbook (MCH Handbook) compared to the Indonesian Indonesian Pre-Screening Developmental Questionnaire (KPSP) as the gold standard. 

Results: The results showed that the MCH Handbook has a high sensitivity of 80% and excellent specificity of 96.2%, indicating that it accurately represents 96.2% of normal child developmental status compared to the KPSP as the gold standard. The Positive Predictive Value (PPV) of the MCH Handbook was 84.2%, meaning it correctly identifies 84.2% of children’s developmental status. The Negative Predictive Value (NPV) was 95%, accurately reflecting 95% of normal developmental status. 

Conclusions: The MCH Handbook is validated as a reliable instrument for assessing child development.