Julio Pérez López

Being born prematurely: interventions from early care

Being born under the condition of prematurity remains one of the most important perinatal health problems. No other neonatal condition occurs so frequently and carries such a high risk for child development. In fact, it is considered the leading cause of under-five mortality. When a preterm child is born, families are also often less sensitive and able to engage in social interactions, may experience stress and anxiety, and all of these can negatively influence child development if not acted upon. In view of this situation, our objective here is to try to show which set of actions, from an Early Care perspective, have the best results on the development of babies born preterm and on the adjustment of their families, as well as to determine which may be the most appropriate moment to start the intervention.

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Julio Pérez López is Professor at the University of Murcia, as well as professor and main researcher of the Early Care Research Group of the Department of Evolutionary Psychology and Education. He is also coordinator of the Prevention, Promotion of Child Development and Early Care Service (SEPRODIAT) and director of some of the University of Murcia’s degrees, Specialist and Master’s degree in Early Care, from 1997 to the present. In 2010, he was granted two awards, the State Award for Research in Early Care, awarded by the State Federation of Associations of Early Care Professionals (GAT), and the ATEMP Early Care Award, from the Association of Professionals of the Region of Murcia, in recognition of his “relevant work” in the field of Early Care. He has also received the Honorary State Award for Early Care in 2017, granted by the State Federation of Early Care Professionals (GAT) in Cadiz.