title: Influence of premature birth on the health conditions, receipt of special education and sport participation of children aged 6-17 years in the USA.
abstract: To investigate the influence of premature birth on conditions among children aged 6-17 years.
  
  
  
  The National Survey of Children's Health in the USA added a question on premature birth for the first time in the 2011-12 wave. The influence of being born premature on different conditions while controlling for sociodemographic factors was assessed using logistic regression. A total of 6882 out of 62 078 (11.1%) of children aged 6-17 years were born premature.
  
  
  
  Compared with children who were not born premature, those who were born premature were more likely to have cerebral palsy [odds ratio (OR) = 9.6, confidence interval (CI): 7.4-12.4], vision problems (OR = 2.3, CI: 2.0-2.6), hearing problems (OR = 1.7, CI: 1.6-2.0) and a special healthcare need (OR = 1.7, CI: 1.6-1.8). Children who were born premature had an increased likelihood of not being on a sports team or not taking sports lessons after school or on weekends during the past 12 months than those who were not born premature (OR = 1.2, CI: 1.1-1.3).
  
  
  
  Prematurity may be associated with negative outcomes as infants transition into childhood and adolescence. Interventions within the life-course perspective are needed to alleviate the long-term consequences of prematurity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, MI 48502, USA International Institute, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Gergana D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Kodjebacheva
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, MI 48502, USA.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sabo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004519:Education, Special / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: children; pregnancy and childbirth disorders; public health