CLINICAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DELAYED MOTOR DEVELOPMENT IN PREMATURE INFANTS: AN OBSERVATIONAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Introduction: Prematurity is associated with a higher risk of alterations in neuropsychomotor development, especially in motor development, due to biological immaturity and clinical complications of the neonatal period. Identifying clinical factors associated with delayed motor development in premature infants is fundamental for planning prevention and early intervention strategies. Objective: To analyze the clinical factors associated with delayed motor development in premature infants through an observational analysis based on the scientific literature. Methodology: This is a narrative literature review, descriptive and exploratory in nature, conducted through searches in the PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO, LILACS, and PEDro databases. Studies addressing clinical factors related to delayed motor development in premature infants, published in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, were included. Data analysis was qualitative and narrative, with the findings organized into thematic categories. Results: The studies analyzed demonstrated that delayed motor development in premature infants is mainly associated with lower gestational age, low birth weight, prolonged stay in the neonatal intensive care unit, need for mechanical ventilation, and the occurrence of neonatal complications such as sepsis and neurological injuries. The absence of multidisciplinary follow-up and early interventions was also identified as an aggravating factor for worse motor outcomes. Conclusion: The results show that clinical factors in the neonatal period exert a significant influence on the motor development of premature infants. Early identification of these factors and the implementation of multidisciplinary follow-up and intervention strategies are essential for promoting motor development and reducing long-term sequelae in this population.