Intrauterine growth retardation and neurodevelopment at one year of age in Mexican children

The objective of the present study was to analyze the frequency and type of neurological, neuromotor, auditive, language, psychological and anthropometric abnormalities present at one year of age in a group of infants born with IUGR. One hundred and fifty four infants (77 IUGR and 77 controls) were included in a case control evaluation. Weight gain at one year of age was twice in infants with IUGR. Most of the neurological and psychological abnormalities, although not severe, were found in the IUGR infants. Unemployment of the head of the family, IUGR, prolonged hospital stay, low weight and small head circumference showed significant associations with neurological abnormalities at one year of age. We can conclude that IUGR has a close association with social and biologic factors that also exert a mild negative effect on neurodevelopment.