euronews.com
Preterm Birth's Lasting Impact
A study reveals lasting socioeconomic effects of preterm birth, impacting income, employment, and education.
English
United States
HealthEducationEconomicsEmploymentPremature Birth
World Health Organization (Who)Plos OneHospital For Sick Children
Petros Pechlivanoglou
- What were the key findings of the new study on preterm birth?
- The study analyzed data from 2.4 million Canadians born between 1990 and 1996, tracking their employment, education, and income for 22-28 years. It found that preterm birth was associated with lower income, reduced employment likelihood, and decreased university enrollment and graduation rates.
- What recommendations did the researchers make based on their findings?
- The study highlights the need for long-term support beyond neonatal care, including psychological, educational, and vocational resources, to mitigate the lasting socioeconomic effects of preterm birth.
- Who are the researchers and what are their recommendations regarding preterm birth?
- Petros Pechlivanoglou, co-author and senior scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children, emphasizes the importance of policymakers and society recognizing the extended socioeconomic consequences of preterm birth and the necessity of ongoing support for this population.
- What factors might explain the long-term effects of preterm birth observed in the study?
- The researchers suggest that impaired brain development from missing the third trimester of pregnancy and associated neurodevelopmental challenges could contribute to these long-term effects. Socioeconomic disadvantages often linked to preterm births may also play a role.
- Were the effects of preterm birth consistent across all individuals, or were there variations?
- Preterm babies, especially those born before 28 weeks, experienced more significant negative impacts. They had substantially lower annual incomes and were much less likely to attend or graduate from university compared to full-term births.