Longitudinal study of behaviour disorders in low birthweight infants

Area of Science:

• Developmental Pediatrics
• Child Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Low birthweight is a known risk factor for developmental and behavioral challenges.
• Understanding the long-term behavioral outcomes in low birthweight survivors is crucial for early intervention and support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the prevalence of childhood and adolescent behavioral problems in low birthweight infants versus matched controls.
• To assess the longitudinal changes in behavioral problems from age 8 to 14 years.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study design was employed, including survivors of birthweight ≤1500 g born in 1980-1981 and matched controls.
• Rutter questionnaires were administered to parents and teachers at ages 8 and 14 years.
• Children with pre-existing clinical disabilities were excluded from the analysis.

Main Results:

• At age 14, both parent and teacher reports indicated a higher prevalence of behavioral problems in the low birthweight group compared to controls.
• Concordant parent and teacher reports identified pervasive behavioral problems in 9% of cases versus 3% of controls.
• Longitudinal analysis showed a decrease in behavioral problems from age 8 to 14 based on parental reports, but not teacher reports.

Conclusions:

• Low birthweight infants are at an elevated risk for behavioral problems.
• Despite individual risk, the population attributable risk for behavioral disorders in this group is modest (2-3%) due to their small proportion of total births.