Piloting a Parental Education Module on Early Developmental Milestones During Antenatal Visits: Assessment of Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effectiveness.

Background: Developmental delay is a global public health concern, particularly in children under two years of age in developing countries. Early identification relies heavily on parental awareness, yet routine antenatal education rarely includes developmental milestone monitoring. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a targeted educational module designed to improve maternal knowledge of early childhood developmental milestones. Methods: Pilot intervention involved a structured 20–25-minute video session administered during routine antenatal clinic visits. The video, delivered in the local language, covered key areas of child development and red flag indicators of developmental delay. A pre- and post-intervention multiple-choice questionnaire assessed maternal knowledge. Operational challenges and participant feedback were also documented. Results: Participants showed a statistically significant improvement in post-test scores (mean increase: 0.827, p < 0.001). Despite positive feedback regarding content relevance and clarity, time constraints and scheduling conflicts contributed to a high refusal and dropout rate. Multiparous women were less likely to join because they felt the information could be repetitive. Operational issues included session disruptions and difficulties in participant tracking. Conclusion: An educational module on child development in antenatal care was feasible and effective, increasing maternal knowledge, according to the pilot study. But some practical issues needed to be addressed before its widespread use. Modularizing content, offering print and digital formats, and optimizing clinic workflows to streamline delivery are suggested improvements. These adaptations should improve feasibility, participation, and early developmental delay detection in the main study. Trial Registration: Trail is registered under Clinical Trails Registry - India (CTRI/2024/04/065008) registered on 01 April 2024