[Identification of behavioural and emotional problems in premature children in the primary care setting].

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 1500g 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.