Early child stimulation, linear growth and neurodevelopment in low birth weight infants

BMC Pediatrics

Table 3 Association between length for age z score and neurodevelopmental outcomes, by PROCESS score categories

Variable	N = 516
Variable	Adjusted regression coefficient (b) ^a	95% CI	P-value
Cognitive composite score (P-value for interaction between PROCESS score categories and LAZ score = 0.08)
In low stimulation group (n = 72)
LAZ score	3.63	1.22, 6.03	0.004
In moderate stimulation group (n = 367)
LAZ score	1.41	0.25, 2.56	0.02
In high stimulation group (n = 77)
LAZ score	1.69	−1.15, 4.52	0.24
Motor composite score (P-value for interaction between PROCESS score categories and LAZ score = 0.03)
In low stimulation group (n = 72)
LAZ score	4.08	1.69, 6.46	0.001
In moderate stimulation group (n = 367)
LAZ score	1.54	0.50, 2.58	0.004
In high stimulation group (n = 77)
LAZ score	1.05	−1.14, 3.25	0.34
Language composite score (P-value for interaction between PROCESS score categories and LAZ score = 0.12)
In Low stimulation group (n = 72)
LAZ score	2.47	0.56, 4.38	0.01
In moderate stimulation group (n = 367)
LAZ score	1.02	0.21, 1.86	0.02
In high stimulation group (n = 77)
LAZ score	0.40	−1.78, 2.58	0.72

^aAdjusted for wealth quintile, maternal age, maternal education, father’s age, father’s education, parity, birth order, sex of the infant, gestational age, exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months, study groups (intervention and control) and hospitalization for severe illness during infancy; Low stimulation group (PROCESS score; < Mean-1SD); moderate stimulation group (PROCESS score; Mean ± 1 SD) and high stimulation group (PROCESS score; > Mean + 1SD)
LAZ Length for age Z score, PROCESS Pediatric Review of Children’s Environmental Support and Stimulation, SD Standard Deviation

ISSN: 1471-2431