[Visual behavior and socioeconomic and demographic profile of the premature newborns from Federal University of Pernambuco Maternity (UFPE)].

OBJECTIVE To characterize the behavior of premature newborns in the first year of chronological age. METHODS This is a cross-sectional descriptive study, bound to a longitudinal study titled: "Comparison of visual behavior on the first quarter of year of life of premature nursling born at two maternities of Recife/PE." The sample was composed by 52 premature newborns selected from June, 2007 to June, 2008 from the Maternity of the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE). Biological, socioeconomic and demographic data was collected through medical records and interviews with progeny. Newborns were evaluated by the Assessment Guide of Visual Ability in Infants. RESULTS Most of the newborns were male at a gestational period between 33 weeks and 36 weeks and 6 days, showed a good visual behavior development for the age researched, and most of the families showed good socioeconomical and demographic profile. Besides, it was possible to detect ocular signs in 19% of sample, that were referred to an Ophthalmology Service. CONCLUSION This study results point out the method like an important key in the early detection and visual screening for premature nursling since the first month of life and it led us to believe that clinical view for occupational therapy intervention must be focused not only on biological risks but also at the influence environment in newborn performance.