Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate both the effects of low gestational age and infant's neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years of age on the risk of parental separation within 7 years of giving birth.
Design: Prospective.
Setting: 24 maternity clinics in the Pays-de-la-Loire region.
Participants: This study included 5732 infants delivered at <35 weeks of gestation born between 2005 and 2013 who were enrolled in the population-based Loire Infant Follow-up Team cohort and who had a neurodevelopmental evaluation at 2 years. This neurodevelopmental evaluation was based on a physical examination, a psychomotor evaluation and a parent-completed questionnaire.
Outcome measure: Risk of parental separation (parents living together or parents living separately).
Results: Ten percent (572/5732) of the parents reported having undergone separation during the follow-up period. A mediation analysis showed that low gestational age had no direct effect on the risk of parental separation. Moreover, a non-optimal neurodevelopment at 2 years was associated with an increased risk of parental separation corresponding to a HR=1.49(1.23 to 1.80). Finally, the increased risk of parental separation was aggravated by low socioeconomic conditions.
Conclusions: The effect of low gestational age on the risk of parental separation was mediated by the infant's neurodevelopment.
Keywords: cohort; low gestational age; neurodevelopment outcome; parental separation.
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