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Early child stimulation, linear growth and neurodevelopment in low birth weight infants

Ravi Prakash Upadhyay1,2, Sunita Taneja3, Tor A Strand4

  • 1Centre for Health Research and Development, Society for Applied Studies, 45, Kalu Sarai, New Delhi, 110016, India. ravi.upadhyay@sas.org.in.

BMC Pediatrics
|October 8, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Early child stimulation can improve neurodevelopment in low birth weight (LBW) infants, especially those with growth deficits. Moderate to high stimulation may mitigate risks associated with linear growth faltering in LBW infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Low birth weight (LBW) infants face risks of linear growth faltering and developmental deficits.
  • Early child stimulation and responsive caregiving are crucial for promoting development in infants.
  • This study investigates the interplay between linear growth and early child stimulation on neurodevelopmental outcomes in LBW infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess how linear growth and early child stimulation interact to influence neurodevelopmental outcomes in low birth weight infants.
  • To determine if early child stimulation can modify the association between linear growth deficits and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • To quantify the impact of different levels of home stimulation on cognitive, motor, and language development in LBW infants.

Main Methods:

  • Secondary data analysis from a randomized controlled trial on kangaroo mother care for LBW infants.
  • Neurodevelopmental outcomes assessed at 12 months corrected age using Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (cognitive, motor, language).
  • Home stimulation evaluated using the Pediatric Review of Children's Environmental Support and Stimulation (PROCESS) tool, categorized into low, moderate, and high levels.

Main Results:

  • Interactions were observed between length-for-age z-score (LAZ) and PROCESS score categories among 516 LBW infants.
  • In the low stimulation group, LAZ had a substantially higher association with cognitive, motor, and language scores compared to moderate and high stimulation groups.
  • Stimulation positively impacted neurodevelopment in both stunted and non-stunted infants, with a twofold stronger association in stunted infants.

Conclusions:

  • Moderate to high quality early child stimulation can potentially alleviate sub-optimal development risks in LBW infants experiencing linear growth deficits.
  • Targeted stimulation interventions may be beneficial for improving neurodevelopmental trajectories in vulnerable LBW populations.
  • The findings highlight the critical role of environmental stimulation in mitigating the adverse effects of growth faltering on neurodevelopment in LBW infants.
Abstract

Keywords:
Child stimulationInfancyLinear growthLow birth weightNeurodevelopment

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