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The impact of wealth on the cognitive development of children who were preterm infants

Susan Braid1, Pamela K Donohue, Donna M Strobino

  • 1School of Nursing, University of Maryland, Baltimore 21230, Maryland, USA. braid@son.umaryland

Advances in Neonatal Care : Official Journal of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses
|August 7, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Wealth indicators reduced cognitive development disparities between white and African American preterm children. However, wealth did not eliminate the gap between white and Hispanic preterm children, highlighting ongoing disparities.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics
  • Sociology

Background:

  • Preterm birth is associated with cognitive development challenges.
  • Racial and ethnic disparities in cognitive development persist among children.
  • Socioeconomic status is a known factor influencing child development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of wealth on cognitive development in preterm children at age 2.
  • To determine if wealth explains racial/ethnic disparities in cognitive outcomes for preterm infants.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized secondary data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B).
  • Analyzed a nationally representative sample of 1400 children born preterm (22-36 weeks gestation).
  • Employed a cohort study design with data from US birth certificates.

Main Results:

  • Wealth (homeownership, investments) did not independently affect cognitive development.
  • Wealth indicators attenuated cognitive disparities between white and African American preterm children.
  • Wealth did not eliminate cognitive disparities between white and Hispanic preterm children, with Hispanic children scoring significantly lower.

Conclusions:

  • Wealth indicators can mitigate cognitive differences between racial groups in preterm children, contrary to some prior findings.
  • Wealth may be a more effective socioeconomic status proxy than maternal education or income for preterm child outcomes.
  • Future research on preterm child development should incorporate wealth indicators for comprehensive socioeconomic assessment.
Abstract

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