Identificación de problemas de conducta y emocionales en niños prematuros en el ámbito de atención primaria

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the usefulness, for use by the primary care pediatrician, of the BASC questionnaire (Behavior Assessment System for Children) for the early detection of psychological and behavioral problems in premature infants. DESIGN: Cross-sectional and descriptive study. SETTING: Primary care (Health Area IV of the Principado of Asturias) and Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: Parents of 87 premature children with birth weight less than 1500 g and 43 full-term controls, both aged 5-7 years. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: The BASC questionnaire (parent version) was applied. RESULTS: Preterm children presented a high rate of inactivity (Z = −4.125, P < 0.001), anxiety (Z = −2.801, P = 0.005) and internalization problems (Z = −2.148, P = 0.032), being more evident at 5 years of age. Preterm boys show higher levels of hyperactivity (Z = −2.082, P = 0.037) and behavioural problems (Z = −2.354, P = 0.019) than girls, who presented more attentional problems (Z = −2.345; P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: The BASC questionnaire is useful for the detection and early diagnosis at the primary care level of the behavioral and emotional problems of premature children.