title: [The impact of a premature birth on the family; consequences are experienced even after 19 years].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A premature birth can cause parental stress, anxiety and uncertainty. This study illustrates the long-term consequences of a preterm birth for family life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study by questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents of 959 children, who were born in 1983 with a gestational age of less than 32 weeks or a birth weight of less than 1500 grams, were approached when their children turned 19 years old. We investigated various aspects of their family lives by means of a written questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We received completed questionnaires back from 595 parents (62%). The divorce rate was higher in families with a disabled child (26 vs. 14%). Working mothers (n = 257) and fathers (n = 506) experienced negative consequences in their workplace (36% and 2%, respectively). The risk factor was having a handicapped child. Financial problems were present in 11% of the families during the first year and 4% still experienced financial problems after 19 years; risk factors were a handicap, male gender and a low social-economic status (SES) of the parents. Of the respondents, 26% had observed a decrease in social activities and friends during the first year and 15% felt that family and friends provided insufficient support during this year. After 19 years, 4% of the respondents still experienced a negative influence on their social lives. Risk factors were a handicap, normal birth weight (no dysmaturity), male gender and low SES. 28% of parents expressed that during the first year having a preterm child was emotional challenging or difficult to accept. After 19 years, 3% still expressed an unfavourable effect of the preterm birth. Risk factors were handicap, dysmaturity and male gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A premature birth has a great impact on the family, especially when the child has a handicap.
authors.affiliation: UMC St Radboud, afd. Kindergeneeskunde, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. cynthiakusters@gmail.com
authors.forename: Cynthia D J
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kusters
authors.forename: Sylvia M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: van der Pal
authors.forename: Gert J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: van Steenbrugge
authors.forename: Lya S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: den Ouden
authors.forename: Louis A A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kollée
mesh_terms: D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult