Can Evidence Based Occupational Therapy Practices Enhance the Development of Children Born to Young Mothers

A qualitative systematic review was conducted to determine if evidence based Occupational Therapy Practices enhance the development of children born to young mothers. Children of young mothers (age <21) may have significant developmental delays compared to children of older mothers due to young mothers having lower education, lower socioeconomic status, and the child’s increased likelihood of low birth rate (Mollborn & Dennis, 2012). These children often progress below average compared to their peers through adolescence. Articles used in this research had to be evidence based occupational therapy studies, include children with a condition affecting development ages birth-12 years of age, be published in English from 2005 to 2018, and focus on occupational therapy interventions to improve the condition that affected development. 8 articles met the criteria for this review. Interventions and assessments included Alberta Infant Motor Scale, Touch Based, suck and swallow reflex, Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement, and Test of Sensory Functions in Infants. Occupational therapy has proven to be beneficial in closing the gap between developmental delays and behavioral issues (AOTA, 2018).