IMPACT OF PREMATURITY ON THE NEUROPSYCHOMOTOR DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN IN THE FIRST YEARS OF LIFE

Abstract

Prematurity represents a significant risk factor for alterations in infant neuropsychomotor development, especially in the first years of life, a critical period for the acquisition of motor, cognitive, linguistic, and socio-emotional skills. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of prematurity on the neuropsychomotor development of children in the first years of life, through an integrative literature review. The search was conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO, LILACS, and Virtual Health Library databases, using descriptors related to prematurity and child development, including studies published in the last ten years, in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. The results demonstrated that children born prematurely have a higher prevalence of delays in neuropsychomotor development when compared to those born at term, with greater impairment in the motor, cognitive, and language domains. In addition, factors such as lower gestational age, low birth weight, presence of neonatal complications, and unfavorable socioeconomic conditions were associated with worse developmental outcomes. It is concluded that prematurity has a significant impact on infant neuropsychomotor development, highlighting the importance of longitudinal follow-up and the implementation of early interventions to promote the comprehensive development of these children.