Developmental Statue of Preterm Infants Up to Two Years of Age and Related Risk Factors using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire

Background: Preterm infants often face challenges in achieving developmental milestones compared to their full-term peers. This study aimed to investigate developmental abnormalities in preterm infants up to two years of age, identify related risk factors using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ).Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study evaluated the developmental status of premature infants aged ≤ ۲ years who attended the developmental clinic at Namazee Hospital, Shiraz, Iran, during the year ۲۰۲۰. Developmental assessments were performed by reviewing medical charts and utilizing ASQ. Developmental items of communication, gross movements, fine movements, problem solving and social interactions at the ages of ۴ months, ۱۲ months, ۱۸ months, and ۲۴ months were evaluated.Results: Out of ۷۷ studied infants, ۲۸ (۳۶.۴%) were girls and ۴۹ (۶۳.۶%) were boys with the mean gestational age of ۳۲.۷۸ ± ۲.۷۴ weeks. Developmental disorders had the highest impairment in gross movement at ۱۲ months (۷۷%) and the lowest impairment in communication at ۴ months (۳۹%). There was a significant correlation between social interactions and mode of delivery (p= ۰.۰۰۸), problem solving with parental consanguinity (p= ۰.۰۱۳), NICU admission with communication (p= ۰.۰۴), and birth weight with fine movement (p= ۰.۰۲) as well as folic acid consumption with gross movement (p= ۰.۰۳). Following, pairwise comparisons revealed a significant difference in communication scores between ۴ months and ۴۸ months of age (p= ۰.۰۳۳). Conclusion: Monitoring the developmental progress of preterm infants using tools like the ASQ is vital for identifying those who may require additional support.

کلیدواژه ها:

ASQ ، Communication skills ، Developmental delay ، Motor Skills ، Premature