Infant Health and Development Program (IHDP): Enhancing the Outcomes of Low Birth Weight, Premature Infants in the United States, 1985-1988

The Infant Health and Development Program was a
collaborative, randomized, longitudinal, multisite clinical trial
designed to evaluate the efficacy of comprehensive early intervention
in reducing the developmental and health problems of low birth weight,
premature infants. An intensive intervention extending from hospital
discharge to 36 months corrected age was administered between 1985 and
1988 at eight different sites. The study sample of infants was
stratified by birth weight (2,000 grams or less, 2,001-2,500 grams) and
randomized to the Intervention Group or the Follow-Up Group. The
Intervention Group received home visits, attendance at a special child
development center, and pediatric follow-up. The Follow-Up Group
received only the pediatric follow-up component of the program.
Measures of cognitive development, behavioral status, health status,
and other variables were collected from both groups at predetermined
time points. Cognitive development was assessed by the Stanford-Binet
Intelligence Scale, the Bayley Mental and Motor Scales, the Peabody
Picture Vocabulary Test--Revised, and the Beery-Buktenica Developmental
Test of Visual Motor Integration. Behavior problems were measured using
the Richman-Graham Behavior Checklist and Achenbach's Child Behavior
Checklist. Health status was evaluated through the dimensions of
morbidity (defined as the presence or absence of health conditions),
functional status (defined by limitations in activities of daily living
due to health problems), changes in physical growth, and maternal
perception of the child's health. The many other variables and indices
in the data collection include site, pregnancy complications, child's
birth weight and gestation age, birth order, child's gender, household
composition, day care arrangements, source of health care, quality of
the home environment, parents' race and ethnicity, and maternal age,
education, IQ, and employment.