Abstract
Following community concerns regarding the status of children conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF). 33 children who had received pediatric follow-up were seen for a psychosocial evatuation. Parents were interviewed in a semistructured format by a child psychiatrist regarding their child's development, child-centered problems, parental problems, marital issues, parenting experience, and experience of the IVF program. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development were administered to the children by a clinical psychologist. Childrens ages ranged from 12 to 37 months (the majority between 12 and 20 months). There was a high incidence of prematurity and twins in the population seen. Twenty-two children had no current problems and seven presented minor problems. Of the four with significant developmental problems, two had been very low-birth weight infants with significant neurological problems and one had severe congenital heart disease. Overall Bayley Scale scores were within the normal range and parents as a group were seen to function well. Problems presented were in accordance with those expected in a population of this age range. particularly considering the high incidence of prematurity.
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Mushin, D.N., Barreda-Hanson, M.C. & Spensley, J.C. In vitro fertilization children: Early psychosocial development. J Assist Reprod Genet 3, 247–252 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01132812
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01132812