Risk factors for psychomotor development among infants born under optimal biological conditions Factores de riesgo para el desarrollo psicomotor en lactantes nacidos en óptimas condiciones biológicas

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of risk factors on infant development, among low socioeconomic children born under optimal biological conditions, and who are exposed to adverse social circumstances. Method: Infants of both sexes, in the amount of 788, were studied and controlled prospectively at between 6 and 12 months. Their mental (MDI) and psychomotor (PDI) development was evaluated using the Bayley Scale of Infant Development. Eighteen risk factors were identified and dichotomized (high or low risk). Results: Breastfeeding, child temperament, maternal intelligence and home stimulation are consistently associated with lower MDI and PDI. After adjustment for covariables, home stimulation persisted as a significant factor for explaining the variation of both developmental indexes and child sex also appears as a risk factor for motor skills development. The accumulated effect of 7 or more risk factors is associated with a significant decrease of develop