Projects per year
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study investigated whether the timing of birth of the younger siblings was associated with the risk of the older siblings' developmental vulnerability in early childhood. METHODS: Linkage of population-level birth registration, hospital, and perinatal datasets to Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) records (2009-2015), enabled follow-up of a cohort of 32,324 Western Australia born singletons. Children with scores <10th percentile on an individual AEDC domain (Physical Health and Wellbeing; Social Competence; Emotional Maturity; Language and Cognitive Skills (school-based); and Communication Skills and General Knowledge) were classified as developmentally vulnerable. Modified Poisson Regression was used to estimate relative risks (RR) for associations between post-birth interpregnancy intervals (IPIs) and developmental vulnerability. RESULTS: Relative to post-birth IPIs of 18-23 months, post-birth IPIs of <6 and 6-11 months were associated with an increased risk of children being classified as DV1 (aRR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.11-1.31) and DV2 (aRR 1.31, 95% CI: 1.15-1.49); and DV1 (aRR 1.10, 95% CI: 1.03-1.17) and DV2 (aRR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.09-1.34), respectively. Post-birth IPIs of <6 months were associated with an increased risk on four of the five AEDC domains. Post-birth IPIs of 48-60 months were associated with an increased risk of developmental vulnerability; however, the risk was statistically significant for DV1, DV2 and the domains of Emotional Maturity and Language and Cognitive Skills (school-based). CONCLUSIONS: Developmental vulnerability was associated with having a closely spaced younger sibling (<12 months post-birth IPIs). Optimising birth spacing should be further investigated as a potential means for improving child development outcomes.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e0268325 |
Journal | PLoS One |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 5 May |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - May 2022 |
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Dive into the research topics of 'Is early childhood development impeded by the birth timing of the younger sibling?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course
Zubrick, S. (Chief Investigator), Lawrence, D. (Chief Investigator), Baxter, J. (Chief Investigator), Cobb-Clark, D. (Chief Investigator), Western, M. (Chief Investigator), Mazerolle, L. (Chief Investigator), Sanders, M. (Chief Investigator), Harmon, C. (Chief Investigator) & Haynes, M. A. (Chief Investigator)
1/01/14 → 31/12/20
Project: Research
Research output
- 3 Citations
- 1 Doctoral Thesis
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Preconception to Pre-Primary: Examining the Predictors and Profiles of Early Childhood Development and School Readiness
Dhamrait, G., 2022, (Unpublished)Research output: Thesis › Doctoral Thesis
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