The systematic approach corroborated the results obtained by published studies: schoolchildren born with very low birth weights exhibited increased risk of learning difficulties when compared with those born at full term. There was a predominance of children with multiple academic subjects compromised and mathematics was the most affected. Risk was observed to follow an ascending gradient as birth weight reduced. There was an association between very low birth weight and cognitive compromise.

Help provided by the health team to breastfeeding at birth, Step 4 of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, as well as non black women, multiparous women, receiving pre-natal care, vaginal delivery and appropriate birthweight contributed to breastfeeding in the first hour of life.

neonatal sepsis was an independent risk factor for neuromotor development impairment at 12 months of corrected age, but not for mental development impairment.

Resultados: No estudo de validade concorrente, a correlação encontrada entre as duas escalas foi alta (r = 0,95) e estatisticamente significativa (p < 0,01) na população total de lactentes, alcançando valores mais altos aos 12 meses (r = 0,89) do que aos 6 meses (r = 0,74). A confiabilidade interobservador apresentou valores satisfatórios de ICC em todas as idades avaliadas, variando de 0,76 a 0,99. Conclusão:A AIMS é uma escala válida e confiável para ser utilizada na avaliação do desenvolvimento motor de lactentes de risco na população da rede pública de saúde brasileira.J Pediatr (Rio J). 2008;84(5):442-448: Prematuro, desenvolvimento infantil, avaliação, Alberta Infant Motor Scale, reprodutibilidade dos testes. AbstractObjective: To verify the concurrent validity and interobserver reliability of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) in premature infants followed-up at the outpatient clinic of Instituto Fernandes Figueira, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (IFF/Fiocruz), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Methods: A total of 88 premature infants were enrolled at the follow-up clinic at IFF/Fiocruz, between February and December of 2006. For the concurrent validity study, 46 infants were assessed at either 6 (n = 26) or 12 (n = 20) months' corrected age using the AIMS and the second edition of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, by two different observers, and applying Pearson's correlation coefficient to analyze the results. For the reliability study, 42 infants between 0 and 18 months were assessed using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale, by two different observers and the results analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Results:The concurrent validity study found a high level of correlation between the two scales (r = 0.95) and one that was statistically significant (p < 0.01) for the entire population of infants, with higher values at 12 months (r = 0.89) than at 6 months (r = 0.74). The interobserver reliability study found satisfactory intraclass correlation coefficients at all ages tested, varying from 0.76 to 0.99. Conclusions:The AIMS is a valid and reliable instrument for the evaluation of motor development in high-risk infants within the Brazilian public health system. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2008;84(5):442-448: Prematurity, child development, assessment, Alberta Infant Motor Scale, validity and reliability.

The results show high prevalence of lung functional and tomographic abnormalities in asymptomatic very low birth weight infants at the time of discharge. They also show an association between lung morphological and functional abnormalities.