Abstract

LINHARES, Maria Beatriz Martins; ARVALHO, Ana Emília Vita; BORDIN, Maria Beatriz Machado  and  JORGE, Salim Moysés. Psychological support to the development of babies with low birth weight babies' development: neonatal unit care and ambulatory care follow-up. Temas psicol. [online]. 1999, vol.7, n.3, pp. 245-262. ISSN 1413-389X.

Advances in the Neonatalogy have contributed to improve the survival of extremely preterm babies. Considering this group of babies' as a high - risk group for future developmental problems, the aim of this study was to present: (a) aspects of psychological development related to pre-term babies' vulnerability; (b) two modalities of attending pre-term and low birth weight babies, born at the Clinicai Hospital of the School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto - USP; (c) results from research that was carried out in this context. This last item has been specifically focused on: (a) content analysis of mothers' reports on their perception of their babies committed on ICU's (mothers were in groups of psychological support); (b) aspects of the initial development along the first year of life of babies participating in the longitudinal follow - up program and (c) the development, learning and behavior results from retrospective and current assessment of children born prematurely, in their childhood (8 to 10 years), as compared to control peers. The discussion of these data intended to contribute to the Pediatric Psychology related to the planning of either assistance programs or investigation of this high - risk group of extremely pre-term children.

Keywords : low birth weight; preterm; infants psychological development; cognitive development; pediatric psychology.

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