Premature babies struggle with education, job prospects: Qld study

Premature babies born as late as 37 weeks face even more difficulties later in life than many had first thought.

The study found the earlier a baby was born, the bigger the problems.

Premature babies born as late as 37 weeks face difficulties with education and earning power later in life, a shock new international study involving Queensland researchers has discovered.

The study, the biggest of its kind, discovered the effects of prematurity carried on until adulthood, and highlighted that parents of the nearly 6000 premature babies born each year in Queensland should monitor their child’s learning development.

People born prematurely, before 37 weeks gestation, have on average lower employment income, university enrolment and educational attainment.

More than two million babies born between 1990 and 1996 in Canada were tracked up to the age of 28.

The study – from University of Queensland Digital Health Centre deputy director Professor Jason Pole and researchers from The Hospital for Sick Children in Canada – is published on Thursday in prestigious journal PLOS ONE.

Prof Pole said: “It is very interesting that late-term babies have shown long-term problems.

“We can only hypothesise that this is because rapid brain growth takes part in the last trimester of pregnancy.

“The results indicate that the earlier the baby is born the more severe the problems.

“But the study shows that even preterm babies born in late pregnancy may need more guidance in learning in the early years.”

Premature babies face a tough start to life.

The study found that once preterm babies were adults, they earned $A1000 less per year than those born at term.

Those born preterm were also 2.13 per cent less likely to be employed, 17 per cent less likely to enrol in university, and 16 per cent less likely to graduate with a university degree.

Many studies have looked at the short-term clinical outcomes of preterm birth but few have followed these children over long time periods to also examine the socio-economic impacts of preterm birth.

Lead author Petros Pechlivanoglou of The Hospital for Sick Children said: “While clinical care during the neonatal period is critical, our findings suggest that the development of long-term supports, including psychological, education and vocational resources, that go beyond clinical care may help mitigate the longer-term effects of preterm birth.

“Policymakers and society as a whole must recognise that the socio-economic impact of preterm birth may extend into early adulthood and that considerations for ongoing support could be vital to ensuring this population has equal opportunity to thrive.”

Mater Health deputy director of neonatology Luke Jardine was not surprised by the findings.

“We have known for a long time that prematurity can often damage the brain,” he said.

“At Mater, we are constantly striving to improve the care that we provide for these babies.

“The level of care received now is vastly different to what was provided 30 years ago, however we still have a long way to go before we can say that babies born preterm will have the same outcomes as those born at term.”