Impact of Early Childhood Infection on Child Development and School Performance
Author Information
Author(s): He Wen-Qiang, Moore Hannah Catherine, Miller Jessica E, Burgner David P, Swann Olivia, Lain Samantha J, Nassar Natasha
Primary Institution: The University of Sydney
Hypothesis
Children with a history of hospitalisation for infection have an increased risk of developmental vulnerability and poor school performance compared with those not hospitalised for infection.
Conclusion
Infection-related hospitalisation was modestly associated with adverse child development and school performance, but the association may be explained by shared familial factors, particularly in those with most socioeconomic disadvantages.
Supporting Evidence
- Children with infection-related hospitalisation were more likely to be developmentally high risk (10.9% vs 8.7%).
- Children with infection-related hospitalisation had numeracy (3.7% vs 2.7%) and reading results (4.3% vs 3.1%) below the national minimum standard.
- Adjusted HR for DHR was 1.12, indicating a higher risk for children with infection-related hospitalisation.
- Similar associations were found when infections were identified from all fields of hospital admissions.
Takeaway
Kids who get really sick and need to go to the hospital might have a harder time learning and growing up, but it could be because of other family problems too.
Methodology
The study used two population-based record-linkage cohorts of singleton children born at term in New South Wales, Australia, from 2001 to 2014, followed up to 2019 for developmental outcomes and school performance.
Potential Biases
Shared familial factors may confound the association between infection and developmental outcomes.
Limitations
The study may be impacted by unmeasured confounding and only included children with hospitalised infections, potentially missing milder cases.
Participant Demographics
The study included singleton live births of ≥37 weeks gestation and ≥1500 g birth weight in New South Wales, Australia.
Statistical Information
P-Value
1.12 (DHR), 1.25 (numeracy), 1.19 (reading)
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.08 to 1.15 (DHR), 95% CI 1.21 to 1.30 (numeracy), 95% CI 1.15 to 1.22 (reading)
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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