Preterm births linked to lower income, employment and education in adulthood, study finds

Infants born preterm may experience long-term effects that influence not only their health but also their future income, employment opportunities, and chances of attending university, a new study has found.

Preterm birth refers to babies born before the 37th week of pregnancy, which can happen spontaneously or due to medical complications during pregnancy, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Preterm birth, especially for those born before 32 weeks, is associated with various health problems, including higher rates of mortality and disability, as well as breathing problems, feeding difficulties, developmental delays and problems with vision and hearing in offspring.

The final weeks of pregnancy are also critical for the full development of crucial organs like the brain, lungs, and liver.

What did the new study find?

The researchers analysed birth data from 2.4 million individuals born in Canada between 1990 and 1996, as well as information on their employment and education outcomes over a period of 22 to 28 years.

Published in the journal PLOS One, the study found that people born preterm earned, on average, 6 per cent less than those born at full term.

The study also found that preterm-born individuals were 2 per cent less likely to be employed, 17 per cent less likely to enrol in university, and 16 per cent less likely to graduate with a university degree.

The effects were more pronounced for people born extremely preterm.

Those born between 24 and 27 weeks of gestation had a 17 per cent lower annual income and were 45 per cent less likely to enrol in or graduate from university.

‘Long-term support’ could mitigate the effects of preterm birth

The researchers suggested that these effects of preterm birth could be due to impaired brain development due to missing the third trimester, which constitutes “a period of rapid brain growth”.

Individuals born preterm may also face neurodevelopmental challenges that could impact their academic performance.

Socioeconomic disadvantages, which are often associated with preterm births, may further explain the findings.

While experts still don’t have a definite answer to what causes preterm birth, there are several risk factors.

A history of previous preterm births, pregnancies with twins, triplets, or more, and certain reproductive anomalies, such as a shorter cervix, could all increase the likelihood of giving birth before reaching full term.

Moreover, some lifestyle factors by pregnant women, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, drug use, and high levels of stress, may also play a role.

"While clinical care during the neonatal period is critical, our findings suggest that the development of long-term supports (including psychological, education and vocational resources) that go beyond clinical care may help mitigate the longer-term effects of preterm birth,” co-author of the study and senior scientist at the hospital for sick children, Petros Pechlivanoglou, said in a statement.

“Policymakers and society as a whole must recognise that the socioeconomic impact of preterm birth may extend into early adulthood and that considerations for ongoing support could be vital to ensuring this population has equal opportunity to thrive,” he added.