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A community based study of failure to thrive in Israel
D S Wilensky1, G Ginsberg, M Altman
1Jerusalem Child Development Centre, Ilan Child Guidance Clinic.
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|August 1, 1996
Summary
Failure to thrive in infants may indicate underlying physiological risks and suboptimal home environments. This condition can impact cognitive development, highlighting the need for early intervention and support.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Failure to thrive (FTT) affects approximately 3.9% of infants.
- FTT is characterized by infants falling below the third percentile in weight for at least three months.
- Infants with FTT often have lower birth weights and smaller head circumferences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics of infants with failure to thrive (FTT) in a community-based cohort in Israel.
- To determine the impact of FTT on cognitive development in infants.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of infants born in 1991 was studied using records from maternal and child health clinics.
- Matched controls were selected for each FTT case.
- Cognitive development was assessed at 20 months, and maternal psychiatric status and home environment (HOME scale) were evaluated at 25 months.
Main Results:
- Infants with FTT showed no differences in obstetric complications, birth order, or parental demographics compared to controls.
- FTT infants had significantly lower developmental quotients (DQ) at 20 months (99.7 vs. 107.2), with 11.5% having a DQ below 80.
- No differences in maternal psychiatric issues were found, but significant differences in HOME scale subscales were observed.
Conclusions:
- Infants experiencing failure to thrive may have physiological predispositions that increase their risk.
- Failure to thrive can serve as an early indicator of suboptimal developmental stimulation within the family environment.
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