Health and behaviour problems at 8 weeks as predictors of behaviour problems at 8 months.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the value of health and behavioural problems at 8 weeks as predictors of behavioural problems at 8 months in a whole year birth cohort.


METHODS
Prospective birth cohort study.


METHODS
The socially and ethnically diverse city of Coventry.


RESULTS
Parent reported behavioural problems at 8 months.


METHODS
Parent reported infant health and behaviour data were collected, using a validated questionnaire administered by the family health visitor at 8 weeks and 8 months, on 1541 infants participating in the Coventry cohort study. Sociodemographic data were collected at the health visitor's initial visit. Unadjusted relative risks (with 95% confidence intervals (CI)) of behaviour problems at 8 months by sociodemographic variables and health and behavioural problems at 8 weeks were estimated. Adjustment for confounding was made by logistic regression.


RESULTS
Infants reported to have behavioural problems at 8 weeks had a significant risk of parent reported behavioural problems at 8 months (adjusted relative risk, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.95 to 6.09) after adjustment for other health outcomes and sociodemographic factors. Of infants with behavioural problems by 8 weeks of age, 19.1% were reported to have behavioural problems at 8 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Infants whose parents report behaviour problems by 8 weeks of age are at higher risk of behavioural problems at 8 months. However, despite the higher risk, the proportions of infants identified by behaviour at 8 weeks were too small for the early outcomes to be useful as predictors of behaviour at 8 months in the whole infant population.
Spencer
N J
NJ
School of Postgraduate Medical Education and Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
Coe
C
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D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires