title: CDC Kerala 2: Developmental intervention package for babies <1,800 g--outcome at 6 mo using DASII.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the experience of using developmental intervention package among low birth weight babies less than 1,800 g and developmental outcome at the end of 6 mo monthly intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Babies below 1,800 g, discharged from neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Sree Avittom Thirunal (SAT) hospital, over the last 3 y, were followed at Child Development Centre (CDC) Kerala and offered monthly evaluation by different tools and developmental intervention using a package by trained developmental therapists and mothers were encouraged to continue the same at home. At the end of 6 mo the developmental outcome was assessed using Developmental Assessment Scale for Indian Infants (DASII).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of a total of 821 babies enrolled for early stimulation program, 740 babies successfully completed 6 mo follow up and stimulation program. Comparing the outcome at 4 and 6 mo, both grading for head holding and gross motor part of DDST showed a statistically significant reduction in abnormal findings. At 6 mo assessment on DASII, motor DQ abnormalities were a high 80% for 600-900 g, as against 17.1% abnormalities for 1,500-1,800 g birth weight group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this intensive early stimulation program for babies below 1,800 g have shown the importance of monthly early intervention using a mother oriented systematic developmental stimulation package.
authors.affiliation: Child Development Centre, Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, 695011, Kerala, India, cdcmkc@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M K C
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Sunitha
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Leena
authors.forename: Babu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Deepa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhaskaran
authors.forename: Paul Swamidhas Sudhakar
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers