Sociodemographic and socioeconomic correlates of learning disability in preterm children in the United States

• Published in: BMC public health Vol. 22; no. 1; p. 212
• Main Authors: Okoli, Menkeoma Laura, Ogbu, Chukwuemeka E, Enyi, Chioma O, Okoli, Ibuchim C, Wilson, Ronee E, Kirby, Russell S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 01.02.2022; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Child; Children; CLWLD; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demographic aspects; Developmental disabilities; Disabilities; Empowerment; Health aspects; Health insurance; Households; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Insurance; Insurance, Health; Learning; Learning disabilities; Learning Disabilities - epidemiology; Learning disability; Meals; Pediatric research; Population studies; Poverty; Premature birth; Preterm birth; Psychological aspects; Risk factors; SES; Social aspects; Social classes; Social factors; Socially handicapped children; Socioeconomic Factors; Socioeconomics; Special services; United States - epidemiology; United States; United States > US; SES; CLWLD; Preterm birth; Learning disability; Special services
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-12592-4
• ISSN: 1471-2458

In 2019, 1 in every 10 infants born in the United States was preterm. Prematurity has life-threatening consequences and causes a range of developmental disabilities, of which learning disability is a prevalent complication. Despite the availability of special services for children living with learning disability, gaps still exist in terms of access due to socioeconomic factors. The aim of this study is to evaluate socioeconomic and sociodemographic correlates of learning disability in preterm children. This cross-sectional study used data from the 2016-2018 National Survey of Children's Health. Weighted multivariable analyses were conducted to ascertain the association of sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors on learning disability among preterm children. The main outcome variable was the presence of learning disability. Among 9555 preterm children in our study population, 1167 (12%) had learning disability. Learning disability was significantly associated with health insurance, food situation, and poverty level after adjustment for other variables. Children currently insured had lower odds of having learning disability compared to those without health insurance (OR = 0.79, 95% C.I. = 0.70-0.91). Also, children living in households that cannot afford nutritious meals are more likely to have learning disability compared to those that can afford nutritious meals at home (OR = 1.55, 95% C.I. = 1.22-1.97). These findings highlight the need for intervention efforts to target these children living with a learning disability to achieve the 2004 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of promoting educational equality and empowerment of children living with a learning disability.