This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

The Manitoba Experience

Teresa C. Benoit, MD, FRCP; Leslie J. Jocelyn, MD, FRCP; Diane M. Moddemann, MD, FRCP; Joanne E. Embree, MD, FRCP

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1996;150(12):1278-1282.

Abstract
Objective
To study the developmental, behavioral, and medical features in a cohort of Romanian children adopted by Manitoba families.

Design
A prospective longitudinal study.

Setting
The Child Development Clinic, Children's Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba, from September 1990 to June 1992.

Patients
Developmental, behavioral, and medical features were assessed in 22 Romanian children adopted by 18 Manitoba families.

Results
Mean (±SD) age at adoption was 15.5±13 months. Mean(±SD) age at initial assessment was 19±12 months and at follow-up, 35±13 months. Medical complications included 6 children (27%) who were positive for the hepatitis B surface antigen, 5 with intestinal parasites (23%), 1 positive for the human immunodeficiency virus, 1 with rickets (5%), and 1 with monoplegia and cleft palate (5%). Initial growth parameters were less than the fifth percentile for age for head circumference in 10 children (45%), for weight in 8 (36%), and for height in 7 (32%). At follow-up, statistically significant improvement was seen in height and weight. Initial mean (±SD) developmental quotients were 82±20 for gross motor, 83±23 for fine motor, 83±19 for cognitive, and 79±18 for language domains. Follow-up mean developmental quotients improved in all domains (P<.05). Twelve children (55%) displayed abnormal behavior at the initial assessment; behavioral findings persisted in 8 (36%). Initial appropriate activity level and play behavior predicted normal cognitive outcome (P<.05).

Conclusions
This longitudinal study of Romanian adoptees delineates improvements in growth and development once the children are placed in a nurturing environment. The persistence of abnormal behavior in some children underscores the importance of further follow-up.

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1996;150:1278-1282

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Section of Child Development (Drs Benoit, Jocelyn, and Moddemann), and Section of Infectious Diseases (Dr Embree), Children's Hospital, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Do First Years Really Last a Lifetime?
Herrod
CLIN PEDIATR 2007;46:199-205.
ABSTRACT  

Meetings and Activities
CLIN PEDIATR 2007;46:292-292.
ABSTRACT  

Health status, cognitive and motor development of young children adopted from China, East Asia, and Russia across the first 6 months after adoption
Pomerleau et al.
International Journal of Behavioral Development 2005;29:445-457.
ABSTRACT  

The Predictive Accuracy of Pre-Adoption Video Review in Adoptees from Russian and Eastern European Orphanages
Boone et al.
CLIN PEDIATR 2003;42:585-590.
ABSTRACT  

Vitamin D-Deficiency Rickets in Adopted Children From the Former Soviet Union: An Uncommon Problem With Unusual Clinical and Biochemical Features
Reeves et al.
Pediatrics 2000;106:1484-1488.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT