Nourossadat Kariman - Associate Professor, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mahbobeh Ahmadi Doulabi - PhD in Pediatric Neurorehabilitation. Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Sepideh Hajian - Associate Professor, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Zohre Keshavarz - Associate Professor, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Fahimeh Rashidi Fakari - PhD Candidate, Student Research Committee, Department of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background: Many factors can effect on children's abilities and development. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of some risk factors as maternal health on child development using path analysis. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a total number of ۶۰۸ mothers and their children, multistage sampling method, in the city of Yasouj, Iran. The data collection instrument was questionnaire-based. The researcher-made questionnaire included a demographic characteristics information form for mothers and a child profile form. Other questionnaires included Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), Socioeconomic Inventory, Social Support Appraisals (SS-A) scale, Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSS-۱۴), Perceived Stress Scale (۱۴ items), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory(BDI-II), and Enrich Marital Satisfaction Scale. Mothers completed the questionnaires in ۴ days and after that handed them over to the researcher in the kindergartens.To analyze the data, the SPSS software version ۲۰.۰ and LISREL ۸.۸ and path analysis test were used. Results: Amount of developmental delay was ۱۷.۴% and the minimum and maximum delays were reported in problem-solving, personal-social skills and communication domains. There was a significant correlation between developmental status of children and socio-economic status, depression, social support, anxiety and marital satisfaction but correlation between developmental status of children and perceived stress was not significant. The final path model fitted well (RMSEA= ۰.۰۱۸, CFI= ۱, NFI=۱, IFI=۱). Maternal anxiety had the most significant effect on child development (βTotal = -۰.۲۴۷۲۲). Conclusion: Many factors including socio-economic status, maternal anxiety, perceived stress, social support, anxiety, and depression can affect on the developmental status of ۳ to ۵ year-old children.

Developmental delay, Child development, health, mothers, Path analysis