The Incidence of Motor Developmental Delay in High Risk Infants and Most Effective Risk Factors in This Regard

Background: High risk infants have a history of one or more risk factors for developmental delay (DD) .The incidence of DD in these infants is higher than normal. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of motor developmental delay (MDD) and most powerful risk factors in high risk infants who had been referred to a developmental disorder center in Iran.
Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive analytical case – control survey. A total of 396 infants, aged 1month 3 years, with the history of one or more risk factors for MDD were studied. Infants with MDD were defined as cases and those without MDD were defined as controls. .Data was collected using a demographic questionnaire, a neurological assessment form, INFANIB Scoring Sheet, and movement and tone assessment in 8 standard positions.
Results: The incidence of MDD in high risk infants was 30.55% (significantly higher than normal). The most powerful risk factors in infants with MDD, were prematurity (25.6%), low birth weight (19%), neonatal seizures (7.4%), hyaline membrane disease (6.6%), systemic infections of mothers during pregnancy (5.7%), and severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (4.9%) in sequence.
Conclusion: Necessary attempts should be done for elimination or limitation of risk factors, in order to decreasing the incidence of MDD. Special attention should be paid to high risk infants in order to early detection and treatment of MDD.