Does the degree of prematurity affect the level of social and behavioural development in one-year-old infants?

• Grant number: 16/09453-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2016
• End date: August 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Human Development Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Ana Alexandra Caldas Osório
• Grantee: Gabriela Carneiro Martins
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie (UPM). Instituto Presbiteriano Mackenzie. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Prematurity, characterized by birth at gestational age under 37 weeks, is associated with higher incidence of serious complications and infant mortality. Recent technological development and improvement in healthcare practices have resulted not only in the increased survival rates of preterm infants, but also in an increase in neurobehavioral problem. For instance, prematurity (along with low-birthweight and being small for gestational age) is a risk factor for the development of symptoms compatible with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD is characterized by communication and social interaction deficits, along with repetitive, restricted or stereotyped behavior patterns. Therefore, it is important to characterize the early social and behavioral development of premature babies in order to identify possible risk factors. Thus, the goal of this study is to assess whether the presence of ASD symptoms varies according to different degrees of prematurity. It is expected that more premature (and low birthweight and small for gestational age) infants will show lower social development (as assessed by eye tracking technique), psychomotor development and increased frequency of repetitive behaviors. (AU)