Jason Bentley|Christine L. Roberts|Jennifer R. Bowen|Andrew J. Martin|Jonathan M. Morris|Natasha Nassar
Planned Birth Before 39 Weeks and Child Development: A Population-Based Study
University of Sydney|Northern Sydney Local Health District|Northern Sydney Local Health District|Royal North Shore Hospital|UNSW Sydney|Northern Sydney Local Health District|University of Sydney
objective investigate association gestational age mode birth early child development methods populationbased record linkage cohort study conducted among 153 730 liveborn infants 32 weeks gestation developmental assessments school age new south wales australia 2002 2007 children assessed 5 domains physical health wellbeing language cognition social competence emotional maturity general knowledge communication children scoring bottom 10 national domains considered developmentally vulnerable children developmentally vulnerable 2 domains classified developmentally high risk dhr primary outcome robust multivariable poisson models used obtain individual combined adjusted relative risks arrs gestational age mode birth dhr children results overall 96 children dhr arr 95 confidence interval dhr increased decreasing gestational age referent 40 weeks 32 33 weeks 125 108144 34 36 weeks 126 118134 37 weeks 117 110125 38 weeks 106 101110 39 weeks 098 094102 41 weeks 099 094103 labor induction prelabor cesarean delivery planned birth referent vaginal birth spontaneous labor 107 104111 combined arr planned birth 126 118134 37 weeks 113 108119 38 weeks conclusions early amplt39 weeks planned birth associated elevated risk poor child development school age timing planned birth modifiable strategies inform judicious decisionmaking needed ensure optimal child health development