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. 2021 Summer;15(3):77-84.
doi: 10.22037/ijcn.v15i2.18702.

Developmental Status of Five-Year-old Children with Very-Low-Birth-Weight

Reza Sharafi  1 , Afagh Hassanzadeh Rad  1 , Narges Akrami  1 , Vahid Aminzadeh  1
Affiliations

Developmental Status of Five-Year-old Children with Very-Low-Birth-Weight

Reza Sharafi et al. Iran J Child Neurol. 2021 Summer.

Abstract

Objective: Some previous studies have reported the improved survival of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) neonates with no disabilities. However, 16% of these neonates have developmental disorders. Considering the lack of research on the developmental status of five-year-old VLBW children and the importance of early detection and treatment, in this study, we aimed to assess the developmental status of five-year-old VLBW children.

Materials & methods: This historical cohort study was conducted on five-year-old children. The participants were divided into VLBW and normal-birth-weight (NBW) groups. Data were gathered using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). This questionnaire consisted of five developmental domains, including communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal/social skills. Data were reported by measuring descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, number, and percentage, and analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test and independent t-test in SPSS version 22.

Results: A total of 106 five-year-old children, including two groups of VLBW and NBW, participated in this study. The results of Mann-Whitney U test showed a significant difference between the groups regarding the scores of communication (P=0.002), gross motor (P<0.001), fine motor (P<0.001), and problem-solving (P<0.001) skills. However, no significant difference was found between the groups regarding the personal/social developmental status (P=0.559).

Conclusion: According to the results, a higher risk of developmental delay was observed in VLBW infants as compared to NBW neonates; therefore, it is recommended to perform developmental screening tests for timely detection of high-risk children and early diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.

Keywords: ASQ; Child; Developmental delay; VLBW.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

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