Caregiving Disruptions Affect Growth and Pubertal Development in Early Adolescence in Institutionalized and Fostered Romanian Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To determine the effects of foster care vs institutional care, as well as disruptions in the caregiving environment on physical development through early adolescence.

Study design

This was a randomized controlled trial of 114 institutionalized, though otherwise healthy, children from 6 orphanages and 51 never institutionalized control children living in birth families (family care group) in Bucharest, Romania. Children were followed from baseline (21 months, range 5-31) through age 12 years for caregiving disruptions and growth trajectories and through age 14 years for pubertal development.

Results

Children randomized to the foster care group showed greater rates of growth in height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) through age 12 years than institutionali

SUBMITTER: Johnson DE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6271564 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature