Desempeño funcional de los niños y niñas de 3 a 8 años que asisten al área de estimulación temprana en salud en el Centro de Desarrollo Infantil de la Universidad de Cuenca “CEDIUC” mediante el test PEDI CAT, Cuenca, agosto 2025 - enero 2026

Abstract

Background: Child development is the process through which boys and girls acquire motor, cognitive, social, and self-care skills. This process may be affected by prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal factors that increase the risk of disability or neurodevelopmental disorders. These conditions compromise participation in activities of daily living and therefore require a functional assessment. In this context, the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory – Computer Adaptative Test (PEDI-CAT) is a valid tool to assess functional performance and to guide intervention planning. Objective: To evaluate functional performance in children aged 3 – 8 years attending the Early Stimulation in Health area at the “Centro de Desarrollo Infantil de la Universidad de Cuenca (CEDIUC) using the PEDI-CAT. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected through interviews with the children´s parents and/or caregivers. Results: High Alert in the Daily Activities domain was more frequent among children aged 5-6 years, whereas in the Mobility and Social/Cognitive domains it predominated in those aged 3-4 years, who also showed higher frequencies of Low Alert in the Responsibility domain. Girls more often presented High Alert in Daily Activities and Mobility, whereas boys more often presented High Alert in Social/Cognitive and Low Alert in Responsibility. Disability was associated with High Alert in Daily Activities and Mobility, while neurodevelopmental disorders were associated with Low Alert in Responsibility. Conclusion: These findings reveal distinct levels of functional performance according to age, sex, and diagnosis.