Gestational age at delivery and special educational need: retrospective cohort study of 407,503 schoolchildren.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Previous studies have demonstrated an association between preterm delivery and increased risk of special educational need (SEN). The aim of our study was to examine the risk of SEN across the full range of gestation.

Methods and findings

We conducted a population-based, retrospective study by linking school census data on the 407,503 eligible school-aged children resident in 19 Scottish Local Authority areas (total population 3.8 million) to their routine birth data. SEN was recorded in 17,784 (4.9%) children; 1,565 (8.4%) of those born preterm and 16,219 (4.7%) of those born at term. The risk of SEN increased across the whole range of gestation from 40 to 24 wk: 37-39 wk adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-1.20; 33-36 wk adjusted OR 1

SUBMITTER: MacKay DF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2882432 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature