Efeitos da prematuridade e do baixo peso ao nascimento sobre as habilidades funcionais e a independência de crianças entre 2 e 7 anos de idade acompanhadas em um serviço de follow-up

Abstract

Introduction: Advances in obstetric and neonatal care has been providing the survival of children with high degrees of prematurity and low birth weight, who are highly susceptible to alterations in their development. The objective of this study was to assess the long-term effects of prematurity and low birth weight on functional abilities and on independence of children between two and seven years old in follow-up service. Methods: Cross-sectional study which used the Pediatric Evaluation Disability Inventory- PEDI, that consists in an interview structured with children caregivers and assesses children’s functional abilities and independence level. The test was accomplished with 98 participants distributed into three groups according to the degree of prematurity, and three groups according to birth weight. It was collected, too, sociodemografic and environmental data. It was accomplished variance statistic analysis and multivariate linear regression, considering significant level α=0,05. Results: There was a delay in the functional abilities in the areas of selfcare (HFAC), mobility (ACM) and social function (ACFS) of 10,2%, 12,2% and 14,3%, respectively and caregivers’ assistance received level of 11,2% in self-care (ACAC) , 19,4% in mobility (ACM) and 15,3% in social function (ACFS). Bivariate analysis do not found significant statistically association between prematurity levels, low birth weight and areas of the PEDI. Variance analysis demonstrated that interaction between those factors and socioenvironmental characteristics, such as socioeconomic status, schooling level, marital status and skin color of caregiver, neonatal complications number, school frequency and brothers, showed statistically significant influence on specific areas of the functional performance and independence of participants. After adjusting the variables through multivariate linear regression, remained associated: the neonatal complications number, in the outcoming of self-care functional abilities (HFAC), when it is considered in the model the gestational age, and birth weight in the outcoming of self-care caregivers assistance (ACAC), when variable weight is into model. Final Considerations: The interaction between prematurity, low birth weight and socioenvironmental factors has important effects on functional performance of pre-school children. Data can subsidize public policies and preventive therapeutic actions favoring children exposed to those conditions.