Neonatal Adverse Outcomes, Neonatal Birth Risks, and Socioeconomic Status: Combined Influence on Preterm Infants' Cognitive, Language, and Motor Development in Brazil.

Abstract

This study extended previous research by investigating the combined effects of neonatal birth risks, neonatal adverse outcomes, and socioeconomic status on preterm neurodevelopment. A total of 184 preterm infants were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III in a follow-up clinic in southern Brazil. Structural equation modeling was conducted with 3 latent variables (neonatal birth risks, neonatal adverse outcomes, and socioeconomic status) and 3 outcomes (cognitive, language, and motor development). The analyses showed that neonatal adverse outcomes were associated with infants' cognitive (b = -0.45, P < .001), language (b = -0.23, P = .001), and motor (b = -0.51, P < .001) development. Socioeconomic status also explained the variances (cognitive: b = 0.20, P = .006; language: b = 0.28, P = .001; and motor: b = 0.21, P = .004), whereas neonatal birth risks remained significant only in the motor development (b = 0.15, P = .040). This study suggests that the most evident contributors to poor neurodevelopment were adverse outcomes and socioeconomic risk factors.