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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
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Do Socioeconomic Factors Impact Neuropsychomotor Development But Not Quality of Life in Preterm Infants?

Tatiane Paludo1, Franciele Carvalho Sonaglio1, Bruno Marques Strey2,3

  • 1Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics
|July 29, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Neuropsychomotor development (NPMD) in preterm infants was affected by socioeconomic factors, but quality of life (QoL) remained consistent across different socioeconomic contexts in the first six months. Risk factors impacted NPMD, not QoL.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Preterm infants face risks to their quality of life (QoL) and neuropsychomotor development (NPMD).
  • Socioeconomic factors may influence infant development and well-being.
  • Understanding these influences is crucial for early intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate QoL and NPMD in preterm infants across different socioeconomic contexts.
  • To identify risk factors associated with QoL and NPMD in this population.
  • To compare developmental outcomes between infants accessing public versus private healthcare.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional observational study of 78 preterm infants (3-5.5 months corrected age).
  • Assessment of QoL using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL).
  • Evaluation of NPMD using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III), alongside risk factor assessment.

Main Results:

  • Significant differences were found in NPMD domains (cognitive, language, motor) between public and private healthcare groups (p < 0.05).
  • Maternal/paternal age, education, socioeconomic status, home affordances, birth weight, and length were associated with NPMD (p < 0.05).
  • No significant associations were found between these factors and QoL.

Conclusions:

  • Biological, socioeconomic, and environmental factors significantly impact neuropsychomotor development in preterm infants.
  • These factors did not appear to influence quality of life within the first six months post-term.
  • QoL remained comparable between infants in public and private healthcare settings during this early period.
Abstract

Keywords:
Child developmentdevelopmental disabilitiesprematurequality of Liferisk factors

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