| Objective To explore the cognition, attention and temperament development of low birth weight infants and the characteristics of attention of normal birth weight infants at age 7-12 months.Methods①Use the videotaped to assess attention: a toy car, a ball and a book were given successively to the infants playing for 90 seconds each one. The period of infant free play was recorded so that it could be scored for focused and casual attention by observers to analyse the attention time.②41 low birth weight infants, including 29 preterm low birth weight (PLBW) and 12 small for date infants (MLBW), were evaluated cognitive development by the Bayley Scales of Infant Development.75 normal birth weight (NBW) infants were as a control group. The result was indicated as the Mental Development Index (MDI) and Psychomotor Development Index (PDI).③Infant temperament assessment:The temperament types and dimensionalities were assessed with Carey Infant Temperament Questionnaire which was answered by the main caregiver.④Self-made family environment questionnaire to know the general conditions, pregnancy course, perinatal situation. delivery patterns, status of newborn, physical condition of baby, family income and family formation, parents' quality and the standard of education etc.Results①Attention time of NBW infants:The average total attention time was 28.8±12.9s, focused attention was 11.4±7.4s and casual attention was 17.4±8.3s per 90 seconds for the three toys. The focused attention time was shorter than casual attention time (t=4.7, P<0.01). There were significant differences among the 3 toys in attention time (P<0.01). The LSD-t test showed that the attention time to the book was longer than that of the car or the ball(P<0.01), but there were no significance difference between the car and the ball(P>0.05). There was no significant difference between male and female infants and also no significant difference among the different age-group of 7～12 months. The attention time among the temperament type infants had no significant difference too.②Cognitive development:The MDI scores of PLBW were 103.5±8.4 and the scores of MLBW were 99.4±8.7. The MDI scores of LBW infants were less than that of NBW(F=9.1, P<0.001). The PDI scores of PLBW and MLBW were 99.8±10.0 and 96.0±8.7. Both of them were lower than that of NBW (F=5.6, P<0.01). Infants of MDI scores more than 110 took the higher percentage(46.7% VS 19.5%) in the NBW group, by contrast, MDI scores less than 89 accounted for large percentage (17.2% VS 1.3%) in LBW group. Multiple correlation analysis showed that gestational age, birth weight, high-risk pregnancy and weight gain during pregnancy were influencing factors of MDI.③ttention time of low birth weight infants:The attention time had no significant difference among the preterm low birth weight, small for date and normal birth weight infants. However, the total attention time was related to MDI (r=0.34, P<0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that the neonatal severe neurological disorder, gestational diabetes and shorter duration of breastfeeding were disadvantages for attention time.④The characteristics of temperament in low birth weight infants:The temperament dimensionalities among the three groups had no significant difference. Moreover multiple correlation analysis showed a correlation between the total attention time and threshold of response (r=0.38, P<0.05), and a relationship between casual attention time and rhythmicity (r=0.40, P<0.05)Conclusion The focused attention time is shorter than casual attention time at 7～12 months infants. The baby's sustained attention time is significant differences among different toys. The MDI and PDI scores of low birth weigh infants are less than that of NBW infants, but there is no significant difference in the attention time and temperament among them. The attention time is related to temperament factors of rhythmicity and threshold of response, and also is related to MDI. |
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