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Developmental outcome of very low birth weight infants in a developing country

Daynia E Ballot1, Joanne Potterton, Tobias Chirwa

  • 1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of the Witwatersrand, PO Wits 2050, South Africa. daynia.ballot@wits.ac.za

BMC Pediatrics
|February 3, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Neurodevelopmental follow-up of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants in South Africa shows generally normal outcomes, but with a notable proportion at risk. Long-term monitoring is crucial for these vulnerable infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Neonatal care advances increase survival of extremely premature infants, who are at risk of handicap.
  • Neurodevelopmental follow-up is essential for evaluating neonatal care, especially in resource-limited settings.
  • Data from developing countries is crucial for understanding VLBW infant outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide neurodevelopmental follow-up data for very low birth weight (VLBW) infants in Johannesburg, South Africa.
  • To identify factors associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes in this population.
  • To inform neonatal care practices in resource-limited settings.

Main Methods:

  • Study included VLBW infants discharged from Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH).
  • Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID) III assessed development.
  • Regression analysis identified factors associated with poor outcomes.

Main Results:

  • 106 VLBW infants (mean birth weight 1182g, mean gestational age 30.81 weeks) were assessed using BSID III.
  • Mean subscale scores were within the normal range, but approximately one-third scored "at risk" (70-85).
  • Cystic periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), resuscitation at birth, and prolonged oxygen were associated with poor outcomes; birth weight and gestational age were not predictive.

Conclusions:

  • VLBW infants in this South African cohort showed generally normal neurodevelopmental outcomes with low cerebral palsy incidence.
  • Low survival of infants <900g may influence observed outcomes.
  • A significant proportion of infants were "at risk," necessitating long-term follow-up into school age.
Abstract

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