ABSTRACT
Background:High-risk neonates need intervention to improve their development. Objective:To compare the neurodevelopmental outcomes at one year of age in high-risk babies (cases) and normal babies (control group). Study design: Case comparison study. Materials and methods:Two groups of participants were formed by simple random sampling: one composed of 245 high-risk babies (cases) and the other one of 245 normal babies (controls). Babies were stratified into high and low risk according to the medical diagnosis given in the neonatal intensive care unit and at three months. Standard care was offered to both groups, and subjects in the high-risk group has additionally received stimulation programs from their mother, who were trained. A monthly follow-up of the stimulation program was done. Therapist involvement was needed when the delay was observed despite stimulation given by the mother. Outcomes:Stimulation programs given since birth improve mental and motor development quotient (DQ). Results:Results were interpreted taking the DQ of 70 as a cut-off value for assessing developmental delay. McNemar's test was used to compare changes in proportions of pre- and post-stimulation abnormal outcomes. After one year, a significant reduction in mental developmental delay was observed in both high- and low-risk groups (35.1% and 45.9%, respectively), with this reduction being similar in the two groups as 95% confidence intervals for change in the proportion of developmental delay were overlapping. Likewise, motor development delay has also significantly decreased in both groups by 32.9% and 41.9%, respectively. Conclusions:Indian Standardized Stimulation Programs considering the mother as a therapist helps improve neurodevelopmental outcomes based on DQ assessment using the Developmental Assessment Scale for Indian Infants (DASII), an Indian modification of Bayley scale of infant development (BSID).
