ENHANCING THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT, PREMATURE-INFANTS - CHANGES IN COGNITION AND BEHAVIOR OVER THE 1ST 3 YEARS

The Infant Health and Development Program is a randomized clinical tri al to test the efficacy of educational and family support services and pediatric follow-up offered in the first 3 years of life on reducing the incidence of developmental delay in low-birthweight (LBW), preterm infants in 8 clinical sites (N = 985). Effects of the intervention on cognitive and behavior problem scores over the 3 years are examined. Significant intervention effects were seen on cognitive scores at 24 a nd 36 but not 12 months of age; effect sizes were similar at both ages . These effects persist when controlling for earlier cognitive scores. At 24 and 36 months, behavior problem scores for the intervention gro up were significantly lower than for the follow-up group; the interven tion was more efficacious for children with higher initial behavior pr oblem scores. Results are discussed in terms of timing and targeting o f services for LBW and disadvantaged children.