The effects of prenatal and perinatal complications on development at one year of age.

ABSTRACT

35 variables descriptive of birth and obstetric complications, prematurity, maternal discomfort, and demographic status were studied for a sample of 322 infants. Factor analyses of these variables resulted in 7 major factors that were used to predict developmental status at 1 year of age for 233 of the subjects. Factors identified as "prematurity," "delivery and related variables," "ethnicity," and "complications" made significant independent contributions to Cattell DQ at 1 year. When Cattell DQs were corrected for the effects of gestational age, only delivery and related variables remained critical, confirming the importance of this factor for later development.