The effects of early and systematic hospital-and-family rehabilitation on the growth of premature infants

Abstract

Objective To explore the effects of early hospital-family comprehensive rehabilitation on the development of pretenn infants. Methods A total of 256 premature infants were chosen and divided into an early intervention group (n = 148) and a control group (n =108). Besides being given the conventional mothering instruction , the early intervention group was given early assessment, regular visits and hospital-family comprehensive rehabilitation treatment. The control group was only given the conventional mothering instruction. The fine and gross motor growth quotients, adaptation, verbalisation and social behavior and general growth quotient of all the premature infants were assessed periodically using the infant neuropsychology growth scale. Results The growth quotient assessment indicators of the infants receiving the intervention were obviously better at the 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th month after birth, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant. The incidence of cerebral palsy in the early intervention group was 0.71% (1/148), with only one cerebral palsy infant in the early intervention group who was at level Ⅲ of the gross motor function classification system ( GMFCS) , while the incidence of cerebral palsy in the control group was 5.1% (5/98) , with 5 cerebral palsy infants, one of whom was at GMFCS level Ⅲ and 4 of whom were at level Ⅳ. Conclusions Early systematic hospital-family comprehensive rehabilitation can improve the general growth of premature infants, decrease the incidence of cerebral palsy, and neurobehavior deficits. Key words: Premature infants; Assessment; Hospital-family comprehensive rehabilitation