266 Academic Achievement in 19 Year Old Adolescents, Born As Preterm Infants (Ga < 32 Weeks and/or Bw < 1500 Gram)

Abstract

Background: In view of the increasing survival rate of very preterm and very low birth weight infants, long term outcome of these infants born in 1980's is of interest not only in terms of handicaps and disabilities but also of educational achievement. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the highest level of completed or current education at age 19 in adolescents born as very preterm or very low birth weight.

Methods: In 1983 94% of the infants born alive in the Netherlands with a gestational age less than 32 weeks or a birth weight less than 1500 grams were included in the POPS-study (Project on Preterm and Small for gestational age infants). All 959 surviving adolescents (72% of original cohort) were invited for a full examination (including physical, mental, behavioral and educational development and social participation) in a hospital at the age of 19 years. If the adolescents refused to take part in the full assessment, they were invited to complete postal questionnaires only. Education was assessed using the same categories as the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) in the total population at the same age (reference category).

Results: There were 596 (62%) full-responders, 109 (11%) postal responders and 254 (26%) non-responders. In non-responders we found (based on previous assessments) significantly more adolescents of non-Dutch origin and of low educated mothers, and more severe handicaps. Of 705 responders, data on education were available in 688. Of POPS-adolescents, 17% had completed special education or lower vocational training (CBS: 6%) and 9% primary school only (CBS: 6%). Secondary education had been completed or was being attended by 60% (CBS: 81%) of which 21% (CBS: 29%) was currently at university.

Conclusions: Academic achievement in adolescents born very preterm or very low birth weight is significantly lower than that in the general population of the same age in the Netherlands. In view of probable positive selection bias in responders, the level of completed education in non-responders will be even lower. Social participation, future employment and independency may be difficult to achieve for many of these survivors of neonatal intensive care.

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