RT Journal
A1 Johnson DE, Guthrie D, Smyke AT, et al
T1 GRowth and associations between auxology, caregiving environment, and cognition in socially deprived romanian children randomized to foster vs ongoing institutional care
JF Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
JO Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
YR 2010
FD June 1
VO 164
IS 6
SP 507
OP 516
DO 10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.56
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.56
AB Objectives 
    To determine effects of improved nurturing compared with institutional care on physical growth and to investigate the association between growth and cognitive development.Design 
    A randomized controlled trial beginning in infants (mean age, 21.0 months; range, 5-32 months), with follow-up at 30, 42, and 54 months of age.Setting 
    Institutionalized and community children in Bucharest, Romania.Participants 
    One hundred thirty-six healthy institutionalized children from 6 orphanages and 72 typically developing, never-institutionalized children.Intervention 
    Institutionalized children were randomly assigned to receive foster care or institutional care as usual.Outcome Measures 
    Auxology and measures of intelligence over time.Results 
    Growth in institutionalized children was compromised, particularly in infants weighing less than 2500 g at birth. Mean height and weight, though not head size, increased to near normal within 12 months in foster care. Significant independent predictors for greater catch-up in height and weight included age younger than 12 months at randomization, lower baseline z scores, and higher caregiving quality, particularly caregiver sensitivity and positive regard. Baseline developmental quotient, birth weight, and height catch-up were significant independent predictors of cognitive abilities at follow-up. Each incremental increase of 1 in standardized height scores between baseline and 42 months was associated with a mean increase of 12.6 points (SD, 4.7 points) in verbal IQ (P < .05).Conclusions 
    Foster care had a significant effect on growth, particularly with early placement and high-quality care. Growth and IQ in low-birth-weight children are particularly vulnerable to social deprivation. Catch-up growth in height under more nurturing conditions is a useful indicator of caregiving quality and cognitive improvement.Trial Registration 
    clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00747396