Cambodian Developmental Milestone Assessment Tool (cDMAT): Performance reference charts and reliability check of a tool to assess early childhood development in Cambodian children

Abstract Background Childhood development milestones are essential skills that define how children participate in their environment socially, physically, and intellectually. A culturally-sensible and environmentally-appropriate tool is needed to assess their performance and detect disabilities at an early stage. Method This observational study aimed to create reference charts of performances among healthy rural and semi-rural Cambodian children aged 0–83 months for each milestone using the Denver II-based Cambodian Development Milestone Assessment Tool (cDMAT). Inter-observer reliability testing yielded Kappa scores. Results and conclusion 1330 children included in the analyses represented an average population sample with similar gender balance, expected poverty distribution and the illiteracy rate among their mothers (81% with no or attended