Table 2

Summary results of meta-analysis of associations of parental factors and cognitive, motor and language developments

Risk factorCognitiveMotorLanguage
No of studiesAdjusted*
SMD (95% CI)
P valueI2 (%)No of studiesAdjusted*
SMD (95% CI)
P valueI2 (%)No of studiesAdjusted*
SMD (95% CI)
P valueI2 (%)
Mother's education
No education (<1 years)15−0.12 (–0.24 to –0.008)0.0550.818−0.07 (–0.13 to –0.01)0.0318.25−0.06 (–0.21 to –0.09)0.4935.5
Primary (1- <6 years)ReferenceReferenceReference
Secondary (6- <10 years)170.14 (0.05 to 0.24)<0.0159.7190.12 (0.06 to 0.18)<0.0151.850.13 (0.04 to 0.21)0.040.0
Higher (≥10 years)170.36 (0.19 to 0.48)<0.0165.8190.26 (0.14 to 0.38)<0.0170.650.21 (0.09 to 0.33)0.030.0
Father's education
No education (<1 years)13−0.005 (–0.08 to 0.07)0.910.017−0.08 (–0.11 to –0.04)<0.010.040.02 (–0.15 to 0.20)0.8030.0
Primary (1- <6 years)ReferenceReferenceReference
Secondary (6- <10 years)150.06 (0.015 to 0.11)0.020.0170.08 (0.03 to 0.13)<0.0130.340.09 (0.02 to 0.16)0.080.0
Higher (≥10 years)150.15 (0.08 to 0.21)<0.010.0170.18 (0.10 to 0.26)<0.0142.340.22 (0.11 to 0.32)0.0317.9
Mother's age (years)
<155−0.06 (–0.13 to 0.25)0.570.050.12 (–0.06 to 0.30)0.250.02n/an/an/a
15- <20 years18−0.007 (–0.06 to 0.05)0.8010.720−0.02 (–0.11 to 0.08)0.7583.660.01 (–0.09 to 0.11)0.8537.0
20–34 yearsReferenceReferenceReference
≥35 years18−0.01 (–0.06 to 0.04)0.580.020−0.006 (–0.07 to 0.05)0.8550.160.02 (–0.05 to 0.09)0.590.0
Mother's height
<145 cm11−0.10 (–0.20 to –0.004)0.070.013−0.11 (–0.19 to –0.03)0.0221.55−0.11 (–0.31 to 0.09)0.350.0
145- <150 cm13−0.11 (–0.19 to –0.02)0.0327.115−0.07 (–0.16 to 0.03)0.1771.15−0.06 (–0.13 to 0.06)0.520.0
150- <155 cm13−0.09 (–0.14 to –0.04)<0.013.315−0.04 (–0.09 to 0.009)0.1431.55−0.05 (–0.12 to 0.02)0.220.0
>155 cmReferenceReferenceReference
Mother's BMI (kg/m2 )
<18.511−0.11 (-0.20 to -0.02)0.0312.713−0.02 (-0.11 to 0.07)0.6951.43n/an/an/a
18.5- <25ReferenceReferenceReference
25- <30120.03 (-0.04 to 0.09)0.4423.3140.04 (-0.03 to 0.11)0.3164.64−0.04 (-0.21 to 0.13)0.7061.0
≥3012−0.02 (-0.17 to 0.14)0.8246.314−0.02 (-0.14 to 0.10)0.7763.64−0.14 (-0.34 to 0.06)0.2635.9
Mother's haemoglobin level (g/L)
Normal (≥110 g/L))ReferenceReferenceReference
Mild anaemia (100–109 g/L)4−0.06 (-0.15 to 0.03)0.280.0110.06 (0.008 to 0.11)0.0429.71n/an/an/a
Moderate anaemia
(70–99 g/L)
4−0.06 (-0.19 to 0.06)0.390.06−0.01 (-0.06 to 0.04)0.6816.31n/an/an/a
  • *Adjusted for child’s gender and age, mother’s education and household wealth.

  • BMI, body mass index; SMD, standardised mean difference.