A cohort study of psychological sequalae in low birth weight children from the Bishop Lavis Community Health Centre

• Main Author: Micklewood, Neil Ryan
• Other Authors: Tomlinson, Mark
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: University of Cape Town 2014
• Subjects: Clinical Psychology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8189

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-90). === The relationship between low birth weight, behavioural inhibition and psychopathology was investigated in 65 seven to nine year-olds and their caregivers who were attendees of a community clinic in a low-income, urban suburb in Cape Town, South Africa. Significant relationships were found between key socioeconomic variables and birth weight status, behavioural inhibition and psychopathology respectively. Low birth weight children were more behaviourally inhibited in anxiety-provoking situations and their caregivers were less engaging than controls. High levels of psychopathology were found, independent of birth weight status and included emotional, hyperactivity, conduct and peer difficulties. Despite this, children had high levels of pro social skills. A model consisting of birth weight and a measure of socioeconomic status was an effective overall predictor of behavioural inhibition status.