Young Adults Born Preterm Face Economic and Educational Challenges
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Nov. 8, 2024 -- Preterm birth (PTB) is associated with lower economic and educational achievements in young adulthood, according to a study published online Nov. 6 in PLOS ONE.
Asma M. Ahmed, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., from the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, and colleagues examined associations between PTB and individuals' income, employment, and educational outcomes during early adulthood. The analysis included 2.4 million live births in Canada between 1990 and 1996, with follow-up to age 18 years.
The researchers found that 7 percent were born preterm (0.3 percent extremely preterm [24 to 27 weeks], 0.6 percent very preterm [28 to 31 weeks], 0.8 percent moderately preterm [32 to 33 weeks], and 5.4 percent late preterm [34 to 36 weeks], respectively). Preterm-born individuals, on average, had $958 CAD less employment income per year (6 percent lower income per year) than term-born individuals and were 2.13 percent less likely to be employed after matching on baseline characteristics (e.g., sex, province of birth, and parental demographics) and adjusting for age and period effects. There was a negative association observed between PTB and university enrollment (relative risk [RR], 0.93) and graduation with a university degree (RR, 0.95). For those born at 24 to 27 weeks, mean income differences were −$5,463 CAD per year (17 percent lower), and the adjusted RR was 0.55 for university enrollment and graduation.
"Policymakers, clinicians, and parents should be aware that the socioeconomic impact of PTB is not limited to the early neonatal period but extends into adulthood," the authors write.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted November 2024
Read this next
New Mothers Face Significant Loss of Uninterrupted Sleep
THURSDAY, June 12, 2025 -- New mothers face a significant loss of uninterrupted sleep through week 13 postpartum, according to a study presented at SLEEP 2025, the...
2014 to 2023 Saw Increase in Percentage of Infants Delivered Preterm
WEDNESDAY, June 4, 2025 -- From 2014 to 2023, there was an increase in the percentage of infants delivered preterm, according to a report published in the June Health E-Stats, a...
Maternal Obesity Linked to Pediatric Hospital Admissions for Infection
WEDNESDAY, June 4, 2025 -- Maternal obesity grades 2 and 3 is associated with hospital admissions for infection throughout childhood, according to a study published online June 3...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.