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Motor development of infants (6-12 months) with low birth weight
Vanessa Cristina Waetge Pires de Godoy1, Fabiola Isabel Suano de Souza1, Cintia Johnston2
1Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina - São Paulo (SP), Brazil.
Insights
Motor development in infants born with low birth weight (LBW) did not differ from adequate birth weight (ABW) infants. However, 45% of all infants showed abnormal motor development, particularly those aged 9-12 months.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Child Health
Background:
- Low birth weight (LBW) is a significant risk factor for developmental challenges in infants.
- Early motor development (MD) assessment is crucial for identifying potential health issues.
- The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) is a validated tool for evaluating infant motor skills.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the motor development and growth of LBW infants versus adequate birth weight (ABW) infants using the AIMS.
- To identify the prevalence of abnormal motor development in a cohort of infants aged 6-12 months.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted with 98 infants (38 LBW, 60 ABW) aged 6-12 months.
- Infants were assessed for motor development using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS).
- Maternal, birth, and infant conditions were recorded as variables.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences in demographic characteristics or AIMS results were found between LBW and ABW infants.
- Overall, 45% of the infants exhibited suspicious or abnormal motor development.
- A higher frequency of suspected or abnormal motor behavior (54.6%) was observed in infants aged 9-12 months.
Conclusions:
- The study found a high prevalence of abnormal motor development (45%) in the evaluated infant sample, irrespective of birth weight.
- Infants between 9 and 12 months of age showed a greater likelihood of suspected or abnormal motor behavior.
- These findings highlight the importance of ongoing motor development monitoring in all infants, particularly in the second half of the first year.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to describe the motor development (MD) and growth of infants born with low birth weight (LBW) versus adequate birth weight (ABW) by using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS).
Methods:
The cross-sectional study including LBW infants (aged 6-12 months) followed at an outpatient clinic from a University Hospital in Brazil and a group of infants of the same age with ABW. The variables were recorded as maternal, birth, and infant conditions. The infants were assessed for MD using the AIMS.
Results:
In total, 98 infants (38 LBW versus 60 ABW) were evaluated and no statistically significant differences were found in demographic characteristics and in the AIMS results. The AIMS results of the total sample were suspicious or abnormal MD in 44 (45%) of total infants. Higher frequency of suspected or abnormal motor behavior was found in the age group between 9 and 12 (54.6%) months.
Conclusions:
A frequency of 45% of suspected or abnormal behavior was observed in the evaluated infants, with a higher frequency of occurrence in those aged 9-12 months (54.6%).
