The researchers stated that though survival of preterm babies has increased worldwide, children born early often have developmental issues.

Studies, they said have mainly focused on those born extremely premature (22-26 weeks’ gestation), noting that less is known about children born very and moderately preterm (27-34 weeks’ gestation).

The study done in France studied neurodevelopment in children born before 35 weeks and those born at full term.

The researchers said their findings are based on 3,083 French children aged 5½ born after 24-26, 27-31, and 32-34 weeks gestation who were taking part in the EPIPAGE-2 study (designed to investigate outcomes of preterm children over the past 15 years) and a comparison group of 600 children born at full term.

Neurodevelopmental outcomes such as cerebral palsy, sensory impairments (blindness and deafness), and brain function (cognition), as well as behavioural difficulties and movement disorders, were assessed using recognised tests.

The researchers explained, “To further assess the family and social burden of prematurity, measures such as the need for extra support at school, visits to a psychiatrist, speech therapist or physiotherapist, and parental concerns about development, were also recorded.

“After adjusting for other potentially influential factors, we found that rates of neurodevelopmental disabilities increased as gestational age decreased.

“For example, among the 3,083 children assessed, rates of severe to moderate neurodevelopmental disabilities were 28 percent, 19 percent and 12 percent and rates of mild disabilities were 39 percent, 36 percent, and 34 percent among children born at 24-26, 27-31 and 32-34 weeks, respectively.

Behaviour was the concern most commonly reported by parents. Rates of neurodevelopmental disabilities were also higher in families with low socioeconomic status.”

Experts say babies born less than 34 weeks rarely survive without adequate neonatal care.

According to the World Health Organisation, preterm is defined as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed.

Speaking with PUNCH HealthWise, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr. Bright Airhumwunde, says that, aside from placing a whole lot of burden on the society in terms of caring for very young children, preterm birth is the leading cause of under-five mortality worldwide and the leading cause of death of under-five children in Nigeria.

Dr. Airhumwunde noted that gestational age and delivery were the two major factors that determine the survival of preterm babies.

The gynaecologist pointed out that babies born below 34 weeks have a poor survival rate, while babies delivered above 34 weeks have up to 80 percent survival rate.

He identified respiratory distress as a major killer of babies delivered before 34 weeks.

“Babies delivered prior to 34 weeks need a lot of support to survive.

“Before 34 weeks, the survival is usually less than 50 percent” he added.

source: Punch