Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Development and behaviour of 5-year-old very low birthweight infants

Liisi Rautava1, Sture Andersson, Mika Gissler

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, Turku, Finland. liisi.rautava@utu.fi

European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
|March 24, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Short pregnancy duration negatively impacts development and behavior in very low birthweight infants (VLBWI). However, birth time, hospital level, and district did not affect VLBWI developmental or behavioral outcomes at age five.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Prematurity and birth circumstances significantly affect infant mortality.
  • Understanding long-term developmental and behavioral outcomes in premature infants is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of prematurity, birth timing, hospital level, and district on the development and behavior of 5-year-old very low birthweight infants (VLBWI).
  • To compare developmental and behavioral outcomes between VLBWI and full-term controls.

Main Methods:

  • A national cohort study of Finnish VLBWI (gestational age <32 weeks or birthweight <1,500 g) and full-term controls born in 2001-2002.
  • Parent-reported Five to Fifteen (FTF) questionnaire data on development and behavior at age 5.
  • Linking FTF data with national health registers (Medical Birth Register, Hospital Discharge Register, Register of Congenital Malformations, Cause of Death Register).

Main Results:

  • VLBWI demonstrated lower developmental and behavioral scores across all FTF domains compared to controls.
  • Lower gestational age in VLBWI correlated with less optimal developmental and behavioral scores.
  • No significant association was found between time of birth, birth hospital level, or district and the developmental/behavioral scores in VLBWI.

Conclusions:

  • Short duration of pregnancy is a key factor adversely influencing development and behavior in VLBWI.
  • Contrary to mortality data, birth time, hospital level, and district did not impact VLBWI developmental or behavioral outcomes at age five.
  • Survival advantages in higher-level hospitals (Level III) do not appear to compromise the developmental or behavioral outcomes of VLBWI.

More Related Videos

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect05:04

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System06:19

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System

Published on: April 19, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...