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Development and behavior of non-handicapped preterm children from a developing country
Aylin Ozbek1, Suha Miral, Neslihan Eminagaoglu
1Department of Child Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. aylin.ozbek@deu.edu.tr
Pediatrics International : Official Journal of the Japan Pediatric Society
|September 30, 2005
Summary
Preterm children in developing countries show developmental delays and increased somatic complaints. Birth weight and parenting styles significantly impact their developmental and behavioral outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Health
Background:
- Limited research exists on developmental and behavioral outcomes of preterm children in developing countries.
- Most studies focus on industrialized nations, leaving a knowledge gap for other populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental, emotional, and behavioral outcomes of preterm children in a developing country context (Turkey).
- To compare these outcomes with those of term-born children and identify influencing factors.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 43 non-handicapped Turkish preterm children (15 very low birth weight, 28 low birth weight) and 36 term controls were assessed at preschool age.
- Data collection involved hospital record reviews and parent/child questionnaires and inventories.
Main Results:
- Preterm children exhibited significant general developmental delays and an increased incidence of unexplained somatic complaints.
- Very low birth weight preterm children specifically showed delays in language and cognitive development.
- Developmental outcomes correlated with birth weight and authoritarian parenting, while behavioral outcomes were influenced by birth weight.
Conclusions:
- Developmental delays in Turkish preterm children align with findings from industrialized countries.
- The elevated rate of somatic complaints may be culturally influenced and warrants further investigation.