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Prevalence of behaviour disorders in low birthweight infants
P O Pharoah1, C J Stevenson, R W Cooke
1Department of Public Health, University of Liverpool.
Insights
Low birthweight infants show a higher prevalence of behavioral disorders, with 36% on parental and 27% on teacher screens exhibiting issues. This highlights the need for monitoring long-term implications.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Neonatal survival rates for low birthweight infants have improved.
- Behavioral disorders in childhood can have long-term consequences.
- Understanding the prevalence of these disorders is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of behavior disorders in low birthweight infants.
- To compare behavioral disorder rates between low birthweight infants and controls.
- To investigate specific disorders like hyperactivity in this population.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 233 matched pairs and 46 unmatched children attending primary and special schools.
- Utilized Rutter parent and teacher behavior questionnaires, and the Conner modification of the Rutter teacher questionnaire.
- Assessed children born with a birth weight of 2000g or less.
Main Results:
- Parental questionnaires indicated 36% of low birthweight cases had behavior disorders versus 22% of controls.
- Teacher questionnaires showed 27% of cases and 12% of controls had behavior disorders.
- Hyperactivity was significantly more prevalent in male low birthweight infants (21%) compared to controls (5%).
Conclusions:
- Improved neonatal survival for low birthweight infants is associated with an increased prevalence of behavior disorders.
- The long-term implications for psychiatric morbidity and adult diseases require ongoing monitoring.
- Early identification and support for behavioral issues in low birthweight children are essential.
Objective:
To determine the prevalence of behaviour disorders in low birthweight infants.
Design:
Children of birth weight < or = 2000 g born to mothers resident in Merseyside in 1980-1 assessed using the Rutter parent and teacher behaviour questionnaires and the Conner modification of the Rutter teacher questionnaire. Children attending normal schools were assessed with controls matched for age, sex, and class in school. Children attending special schools were assessed unmatched.
Subjects:
233 matched case-control pairs attending normal primary schools and 46 unmatched children attending special schools.
Setting:
Primary and special schools.
Main Outcome Measures:
Emotional, conduct, and undifferentiated behaviour disorders and hyperactivity.
Results:
On the parental questionnaire screen, 36% of the cases and 22% of the controls had a behaviour disorder and on the teacher questionnaire the proportions were 27% and 12% respectively. Hyperactivity was significantly more common among male cases than their controls (21% v 5.0%) but differed little among female cases and controls (9% v 7%).
Conclusions:
Improving neonatal survival of low birthweight infants is accompanied by a higher prevalence of behaviour disorders. The long term implications for psychiatric morbidity and other adult disease must be monitored.