The Effects of Being Born of Very-Low-Birthweight

Whether very-low-birthweight (VLBW ≤1,500 g) children differ from normal birthweight (NBW ≥2,500 g) children with respect to long-term outcome continues to be a controversial issue. Preliminary findings are reported from the interdisciplinary Northern Ireland Very-Low-Birlhweight Project, which compared medical, cognitive, behavioural and social outcomes at school age in samples of VLBW and NBW infants (n=221 per group) matched for age, gender, social class, maternal age and parity. All infants were born in or treated in the Royal Maternity Hospital, Blfast during the years 1978–1981. As compared to the NBW group, the VLBW children from all social classes were found to score more poorly across all areas investigated. These differences, although not representing gross abnormalities, nonetheless were statistically significant and represented considerable dysfunctioning across a range of abilities relevant to later adult adjustment. Possible mechanisms common to all outcome areas and to all social classes wh...