[Handicaps in the perinatal period. I. Perinatal pathology and difficulties in school]. / Handicaps et périnatalité. I. Pathologie périnatale et difficultés scolaires.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Major handicaps are closely related to perinatal events. However, relationship of these events with other moderate disabilities such as school problems are still unclear. POPULATION AND METHODS: A representative sample of 1,408 children at school age and born in Lorraine in 1984 was studied. Two hundred and fifty children with problems were compared with 602 controls without school problems, using a multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The incidence of school difficulties among 6-year old children (in the last year of nursery school) is 17.8%. Children are at higher risk of school problems if their parents are not (odds ratio [OR] = 7.9) or are poor school graduate (OR = 2.7), if they are boys (OR = 2.0), if they are born at the end of the year (OR = 1.1) and also if they are preterm (OR = 2.7) or small for gestational age (OR = 2.5). Preterm delivery and intra-uterine growth retardation accounted for 9.6% of school difficulties. CONCLUSION: The relationship between perinatal events and school difficulties warrants to continue with prevention during pregnancy, especially among groups with multiple risk factors.