Behaviour link to pre-term birth

Published on Monday 8 September 2008 22:17

CHILDREN born extremely prematurely are four times more likely to have emotional problems or behavioural disorders later in life than their peers, according to a new study.

Research into 200 six-year-olds born earlier than 26 weeks showed 30.6 per cent were hyperactive, compared with 8.8 per cent of a "control" group.

Attention problems were detected among 33.3 per cent, compared with 6.8 per cent of their contemporaries.

The study, led by the University of Warwick's department of psychology and its medical school, tried to contact the family of every child born in the UK and Ireland at 25 weeks or earlier between March and December 1995. The parents of 241 children from a possible 308 children who survived the first six years responded to the study.

The research also found that boys born extremely prematurely showed a higher degree of behaviour problems, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Girls experienced more "internalising" disorders, such as anxiety and depression.

The study also showed extremely pre-term boys were more vulnerable to behavioural problems, and they had a greater impact on parents and teachers than extremely pre-term girls.

Dr Dieter Wolke said: "We found a considerable excess of behaviour difficulties, including problems in a range of domains such as emotion, hyperactivity, attention and peer relationship problems.

"Parents and teachers agreed these behaviour problems had a considerable impact on home and school life."