London - Children born a few weeks early are significantly more likely to suffer behavioural and/or emotional problems before they start school, researchers say.
Those born between 32 and 35 weeks' gestation (moderately premature) are almost twice as likely to have behavioural and emotional problems as children born at term (38 to 41 weeks).
The study, published online in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, found moderately premature children had a range of issues.
The boys were more likely to act out their problems through their behaviour than the girls, who tended to internalise them.
Researchers analysed data for 995 children who were moderately premature and 577 born at term.
Overall, premature children were almost twice as likely to suffer unexplained medical complaints and externalise problems through behaviour.
Premature children were almost twice as likely to suffer problems overall than those children born at term. - Belfast Telegraph