Clinical and epidemiological profile of preterm infants with neonatal intracranial injuries in an outpatient follow-up program within brazil’s public health system
1
Programa de pós graduação saúde coletiva, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2289
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Prematurity remains a major public health challenge, associated with high neurological morbidity and long-term impact on child development. Neonatal intracranial conditions, such as periventricular leukomalacia and peri-intraventricular hemorrhage, are among the main factors related to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants. Identification of these conditions during the neonatal period and longitudinal follow-up of high-risk newborns are essential strategies for care planning and reduction of long-term sequelae. In Brazil, maternal and child health care within the Unified Health System is organized through integrated care networks that link neonatal units to outpatient follow-up after hospital discharge.
METHODS:
This cross-sectional, retrospective, documentary study analyzed medical records of preterm infants followed in an outpatient follow-up program at a public university hospital in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, between October 2020 and September 2021. Infants diagnosed with periventricular leukomalacia and/or peri-intraventricular hemorrhage identified by neonatal neuroimaging were included. Maternal, perinatal, neonatal, and neonatal intensive care unit-related variables were analyzed.
RESULTS:
Among 110 preterm infants followed during the study period, 47 presented neonatal intracranial injuries, representing 42.7% of the cohort. Peri-intraventricular hemorrhage was the most frequent condition, predominantly mild forms, although approximately 40% of infants had severe injuries. Most affected infants were extremely preterm, had low birth weight, incomplete prenatal care, and required neonatal resuscitation and ventilatory support, indicating high clinical complexity and increased vulnerability to adverse neurological outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings underscore outpatient follow-up of preterm infants with neonatal intracranial injuries as a core public health strategy. Organizing care networks within Brazil’s public health system enables risk stratification, longitudinal monitoring, and early intervention planning, with the potential to reduce long-term disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, while mitigating inequalities in access to specialized care and strengthening public health system responses.
Prematurity remains a major public health challenge, associated with high neurological morbidity and long-term impact on child development. Neonatal intracranial conditions, such as periventricular leukomalacia and peri-intraventricular hemorrhage, are among the main factors related to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants. Identification of these conditions during the neonatal period and longitudinal follow-up of high-risk newborns are essential strategies for care planning and reduction of long-term sequelae. In Brazil, maternal and child health care within the Unified Health System is organized through integrated care networks that link neonatal units to outpatient follow-up after hospital discharge.
METHODS:
This cross-sectional, retrospective, documentary study analyzed medical records of preterm infants followed in an outpatient follow-up program at a public university hospital in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, between October 2020 and September 2021. Infants diagnosed with periventricular leukomalacia and/or peri-intraventricular hemorrhage identified by neonatal neuroimaging were included. Maternal, perinatal, neonatal, and neonatal intensive care unit-related variables were analyzed.
RESULTS:
Among 110 preterm infants followed during the study period, 47 presented neonatal intracranial injuries, representing 42.7% of the cohort. Peri-intraventricular hemorrhage was the most frequent condition, predominantly mild forms, although approximately 40% of infants had severe injuries. Most affected infants were extremely preterm, had low birth weight, incomplete prenatal care, and required neonatal resuscitation and ventilatory support, indicating high clinical complexity and increased vulnerability to adverse neurological outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings underscore outpatient follow-up of preterm infants with neonatal intracranial injuries as a core public health strategy. Organizing care networks within Brazil’s public health system enables risk stratification, longitudinal monitoring, and early intervention planning, with the potential to reduce long-term disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, while mitigating inequalities in access to specialized care and strengthening public health system responses.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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