OBJECTIVES: to assess the impact of preterm birth and family socioeconomic status (SES) as they relate to functional and routine tasks performance in three years old children. METHODS: cross-sectional study including 40 children distributed into four groups according to biologic risk variables of high and low social risk. Children's abilities and independence were assessed by the standardized PEDI functional test in the areas of: self-care, mobility and social function. Two-way ANOVA tested the interaction effect between biologic and social risks, and main effects of individual risk factors. RESULTS: significant interaction factors in mobility functional ability and independence in social function were demonstrated between preterm and at term children with low SES. Preterm children scored lower in the two aspects of functional performance. There were no significant differences in the groups of children with high SES in the evaluated areas. CONCLUSIONS: social risk (moderating factor) changed the relationship between biologic and mobility abilities and social function independence. The interaction of biologic and social factors, and not only the presence of a sole risk factor impacts functional performance in three year old children. The results points towards increasing therapeutic actions favoring children exposed to biologic and social risk factors.
Infant; premature; Child development; Socioeconomic factors; Risk factors; Biological factors
