Health, growth, and use of community services in NICU graduates at early school age.
OBJECTIVE
To examine outcomes related to health, growth, and use of community health and education services in children ages 6 to 8 years who received newborn intensive care because of prematurity or perinatal complications.


METHODS
Parents of 81 children who had received neonatal intensive care at a Midwest US tertiary care center completed a mailed questionnaire. Three birth weight groups (very low birth weight [VLBW] < 1500 g, n = 35; low birth weight [LBW] 1501-2500 g, n = 24, and normal birth weight [NBW] > 2500 g, n = 22) were compared regarding growth, health, and use of community-based services using descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance.


RESULTS
VLBW and NBW groups had more ongoing health concerns. Growth patterns were similar in all groups. VLBW and NBW groups demonstrated greater use of community-based services, and service use increased at school age.


CONCLUSIONS
Comprehensive systems are needed for follow-up of high-risk infants to detect and refer problems early. Neonatal histories must be tracked throughout childhood. Seriously ill term NBW infants are at risk for later morbidity and require follow-up similar to that provided for VLBW children.
School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA.
L L
LL
Lindeke
M M
MM
Mills
M K
MK
Georgieff
M E
ME
Tanner
P M
PM
Wrbsky
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome