Premature babies show poor school performance

Education and behavioural problems in babies of 32-35 weeks gestation, Fetal and Neonatal Edition 2001; 85:F23-F28

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Up to a third of children born between 32 and 35 weeks gestation will have some form of school problem, finds a study in Archives of Disease in Childhood. Given the large number of surviving children in this gestational age group, this finding has important implications for educational services, report the authors.

All children born at 32-35 weeks gestation to mothers resident in Oxfordshire in 1990 were identified. Family doctors, parents and teachers were surveyed about each child's health, development, education and behaviour. Teachers were asked to rate the children on their level of function in six skill areas. They also completed the Strengths and Difficulties behaviour questionnaire. Medical notes were examined in order to collect information on possible risk factors for poor school performance.

Teacher responses were obtained for 117 children. Twenty nine (25%) required support from a non-teaching assistant, five (4%) required special educational help, and three (3%) were at special school. Almost one third of children in this group were identified as having difficulties with writing, fine motor skills and mathematics. Overall 34 children (28%) were assessed as being hyperactive by either parent or teacher, although only 10 (8%) were assessed as being hyperactive by both.

Despite some limitations of the study, it is clear that children of school age who were born at 32-35 weeks gestation have a very significant risk of educational difficulties, say the authors. Such an increase in the risk of school problems in this very large group of children will have considerable resource implications and should be addressed, they conclude.

Contact:

Dr C L J Huddy, Neonatal Unit, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK

Tel: to be added
huddy@doctors.org.uk