Relationship between moderate to late preterm, diet types and developmental delay in less-developed rural China

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Development
• Nutritional Epidemiology
• Global Child Health

Background:

• Preterm birth is a global health concern, with moderate to late preterm births representing a significant proportion.
• Developmental outcomes in children from less-developed regions require specific investigation due to unique environmental and nutritional factors.
• The Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) is a validated tool for assessing child development across various domains.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess developmental trajectories of moderate to late preterm children using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ).
• To investigate the relationship between preterm birth status, dietary patterns, and developmental delays in a rural Chinese population.
• To identify specific nutritional interventions that could mitigate developmental risks in preterm infants.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional community-based survey involving 1748 children aged 1-59 months in rural China.
• Caregiver completion of the Chinese version of ASQ-3 (ASQ-C), supplemented by physical examinations and socio-demographic questionnaires.
• Multivariate logistic regression analyses to examine associations between preterm birth, diet, and developmental delay, with comparisons of food consumption between preterm and full-term groups.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of suspected overall developmental delay was higher in moderate to late preterm children (31.3%) compared to full-term children (21.6%).
• Moderate to late preterm birth was significantly associated with developmental delay in the fine motor domain (OR=2.43).
• Lower relative consumption of fruits and vegetables was observed in moderate to late preterm children compared to full-term peers, with these food groups showing a protective effect on fine motor development.

Conclusions:

• Moderate to late preterm children in rural China exhibit an elevated risk of fine motor developmental delays.
• Dietary intake, particularly of fruits and vegetables, plays a crucial role in child development and may mitigate risks associated with preterm birth.
• Interventions focused on enhancing fruit and vegetable consumption in moderate to late preterm children are recommended to support optimal development.