Predictors of Development In Premature Infants From Low-Income Families: African Americans and Hispanics

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the study was to determine the factors that affect the motor and mental development of premature Latino and African American infants from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study of 41 low birth weight (LBW) African American infants along with 82 LBW Hispanic infants examined the factors that influence mental and motor development at 8 months of age. Multiple regression analysis was performed to correlate perinatal, environmental, and demographic variables with mental and motor development using the Bayley scales of infant development. The perinatal variables included birth weight, gestational age, and days of hospitalization. The demographic and environmental variables chosen were: income, education, the home environment, social support, mother–infant interaction, and maternal confidence.

RESULTS: The results indicated that, for African American infants, motor development was correlated with the mother’s education and the number of days the infant spent in the hospital. Mental development for African American infants was predicted by the home environment. For Hispanic infants, the home environment predicted motor scores while the mother–infant interaction was correlated with the mental scores.

CONCLUSION: Factors contributing to the development of premature infants vary according to ethnicity, and social variables may be more predictive of development than medical factors.