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Associations between size and development at four years among children who were small-for-dates and large-for-dates

M Ounsted, V A Moar, A Scott

    Early Human Development
    |April 1, 1984
    PubMed

    Insights

    Child development at 4 years is linked to birth size. Head circumference at birth was a significant predictor of overall development scores, especially in children with smaller heads.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Development
    • Child Health
    • Growth Monitoring

    Background:

    • Birth size, categorized as small-for-dates (SFD), average-for-dates (AFD), and large-for-dates (LFD), can influence long-term child development.
    • Understanding the relationship between early somatic measures and later developmental status is crucial for identifying potential developmental risks.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate associations between various somatic measures and developmental status at four years of age.
    • To examine these associations across different birthweight groups (SFD, AFD, LFD).

    Main Methods:

    • Longitudinal study tracking children from birth to four years.
    • Somatic measures (e.g., head circumference, weight-for-height) and developmental status were assessed.
    • Statistical analyses, including correlation and subgroup analysis, were performed, adjusting for sex, social class, and series.

    Main Results:

    • A significant positive correlation was found between head circumference and total developmental scores when all birthweight groups were combined.
    • No significant correlations were observed between somatic measures and development in the SFD and AFD groups.
    • A negative correlation between weight-for-height and total developmental scores was noted in the LFD group.
    • Children with smaller head circumferences, irrespective of birthweight group, exhibited lower developmental scores.

    Conclusions:

    • Head circumference is a significant predictor of developmental status at four years.
    • Early identification of smaller head circumference may indicate a need for closer developmental monitoring.
    • The relationship between somatic measures and development varies depending on birthweight status.

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