{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,2]],"date-time":"2026-09-02T02:43:02Z","timestamp":1788316982881,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"American Medical Association (AMA)","issue":"11","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JAMA Netw Open"],"abstract":"Importance<\/jats:title>Birth at 39 weeks\u2019 gestation is common and thought to be safe for mother and neonate. However, findings of long-term outcomes for children born at this gestational age have been conflicting.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>Objective<\/jats:title>To evaluate the association of birth at 39 weeks\u2019 gestation with childhood numeracy and literacy scores at ages 7 to 9 years compared with birth at 40 to 42 weeks\u2019 gestation.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>Design, Setting, and Participants<\/jats:title>In this Australian statewide, population-based cohort study using a causal inference framework based on target trial emulation, perinatal data on births between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2011, were linked to educational outcomes at 7 to 9 years of age. Statistical analyses were performed from December 2022 to June 2023.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>Exposure<\/jats:title>Birth at 39 weeks\u2019 gestation compared with birth at 40 to 42 weeks\u2019 gestation.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>Main Outcomes and Measures<\/jats:title>Numeracy and literacy outcomes were assessed at 7 to 9 years of age using Australian National Assessment Program\u2013Literacy and Numeracy data and defined by overall z<\/jats:italic> score across 5 domains (grammar and punctuation, reading, writing, spelling, and numeracy). Multiple imputation and doubly robust inverse probability weighted regression adjustment were used to estimate population average causal effects.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>Results<\/jats:title>The study population included 155\u202f575 children. Of these children, 49\u202f456 (31.8%; 24\u202f952 boys [50.5%]) were born at 39 weeks\u2019 gestation and were compared with 106\u202f119 (68.2%; 52\u202f083 boys [49.1%]) born at 40 to 42 weeks\u2019 gestation. Birth at 39 weeks\u2019 gestation was not associated with altered educational outcomes for children aged 7 to 9 years compared with their peers born at 40 to 42 weeks\u2019 gestation (mean [SE] z<\/jats:italic> score, 0.0008 [0.0019] vs \u20130.0031 [0.0038]; adjusted risk difference, \u22120.004 [95% CI, \u22120.015 to 0.007]). Each educational domain was investigated, and no significant difference was found in grammar and punctuation (risk difference [RD], \u22120.006 [95% CI, \u22120.016 to 0.005]), numeracy (RD, \u22120.009 [95% CI, \u22120.020 to 0.001]), spelling (RD, 0.001 [95% CI, \u22120.011 to 0.0013]), reading (RD, \u22120.008 [95% CI, \u22120.019 to 0.003]), or writing (RD, 0.006 [95% CI, \u22120.005 to 0.016]) scores for children born at 39 weeks\u2019 gestation compared with those born at 40 to 42 weeks\u2019 gestation. Birth at 39 weeks\u2019 gestation also did not increase the risk of scoring below national minimum standards in any of the 5 tested domains.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>Conclusions and Relevance<\/jats:title>Using data from a statewide linkage study to emulate the results of a target randomized clinical trial, this study suggests that there is no evidence of an association of birth at 39 weeks\u2019 gestation with numeracy and literacy outcomes for children aged 7 to 9 years.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2023.43721","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,17]],"date-time":"2023-11-17T16:32:38Z","timestamp":1700238758000},"page":"e2343721","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":8,"title":["Educational Outcomes for Children at 7 to 9 Years of Age After Birth at 39 vs 40 to 42 Weeks\u2019 Gestation"],"prefix":"10.1001","volume":"6","author":[{"given":"Richard J.","family":"Hiscock","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Mercy Perinatal, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia"},{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mercy Hospital for Women, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jessica A.","family":"Atkinson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Mercy Perinatal, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia"},{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mercy Hospital for Women, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stephen","family":"Tong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Mercy Perinatal, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia"},{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mercy Hospital for Women, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Susan P.","family":"Walker","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Mercy Perinatal, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia"},{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mercy Hospital for Women, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Amber","family":"Kennedy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Mercy Perinatal, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia"},{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mercy Hospital for Women, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jeanie Y. L.","family":"Cheong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Newborn Research, Royal Women\u2019s Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia"},{"name":"Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children\u2019s Research Institute, Royal Children\u2019s Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jon L.","family":"Quach","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lyle C.","family":"Gurrin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Roxanne","family":"Hastie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Mercy Perinatal, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia"},{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mercy Hospital for Women, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anthea","family":"Lindquist","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Mercy Perinatal, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia"},{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mercy Hospital for Women, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"10","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,17]]},"reference":[{"issue":"6","key":"zoi231270r2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"513","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMoa1800566","article-title":"Labor induction versus expectant management in low-risk nulliparous women.","volume":"379","author":"Grobman","year":"2018","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"issue":"5","key":"zoi231270r3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2023.13162","article-title":"Comparison of maternal labor-related complications and neonatal outcomes following elective induction of labor at 39 weeks of gestation vs expectant management: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","volume":"6","author":"Hong","year":"2023","journal-title":"JAMA Netw Open"},{"issue":"7","key":"zoi231270r4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"654","DOI":"10.1001\/jamapediatrics.2022.1165","article-title":"Developmental outcomes for children after elective birth at 39 weeks\u2019 gestation.","volume":"176","author":"Lindquist","year":"2022","journal-title":"JAMA Pediatr"},{"issue":"6","key":"zoi231270r5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pmed.1000289","article-title":"Gestational age at delivery and special educational need: retrospective cohort study of 407,503 schoolchildren.","volume":"7","author":"MacKay","year":"2010","journal-title":"PLoS Med"},{"issue":"6","key":"zoi231270r6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1814","DOI":"10.1093\/ije\/dyab134","article-title":"Gestational age at term delivery and children\u2019s neurocognitive development.","volume":"50","author":"Gleason","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Epidemiol"},{"key":"zoi231270r7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","author":"Selvaratnam","journal-title":"J Paediatr Child Health","DOI":"10.1111\/jpc.v59.9"},{"issue":"2","key":"zoi231270r8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"173.e1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajog.2011.10.002","article-title":"Normative fetal brain growth by quantitative in vivo magnetic resonance imaging.","volume":"206","author":"Clouchoux","year":"2012","journal-title":"Am J Obstet Gynecol"},{"issue":"4","key":"zoi231270r9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"220","DOI":"10.1053\/j.semperi.2009.04.003","article-title":"Insights from in vitro fetal magnetic resonance imaging of cerebral development.","volume":"33","author":"Kostovic","year":"2009","journal-title":"Semin Perinatol"},{"key":"zoi231270r10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj-2022-072779","article-title":"Gestational age at birth and cognitive outcomes in adolescence: population based full sibling cohort study.","volume":"380","author":"Husby","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"issue":"24","key":"zoi231270r11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2446","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2022.21383","article-title":"Target trial emulation: a framework for causal inference from observational data.","volume":"328","author":"Hern\u00e1n","year":"2022","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"issue":"15","key":"zoi231270r12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1345","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMp2113319","article-title":"Methods of public health research\u2014strengthening causal inference from observational data.","volume":"385","author":"Hern\u00e1n","year":"2021","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"issue":"8","key":"zoi231270r13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"758","DOI":"10.1093\/aje\/kwv254","article-title":"Using big data to emulate a target trial when a randomized trial is not available.","volume":"183","author":"Hern\u00e1n","year":"2016","journal-title":"Am J Epidemiol"},{"issue":"6","key":"zoi231270r14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"766","DOI":"10.1097\/EDE.0b013e3181875e61","article-title":"Observational studies analyzed like randomized experiments: an application to postmenopausal hormone therapy and coronary heart disease.","volume":"19","author":"Hern\u00e1n","year":"2008","journal-title":"Epidemiology"},{"issue":"3","key":"zoi231270r15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1177\/1833358316689688","article-title":"Data accuracy in the Victorian Perinatal Data Collection: results of a validation study of 2011 data.","volume":"46","author":"Flood","year":"2017","journal-title":"Health Inf Manag"},{"issue":"2","key":"zoi231270r20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"620","DOI":"10.1093\/ije\/dyaa213","article-title":"Use of directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) to identify confounders in applied health research: review and recommendations.","volume":"50","author":"Tennant","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Epidemiol"},{"issue":"1","key":"zoi231270r22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1002\/uog.v58.1","article-title":"Elective labor induction vs expectant management of pregnant women at term and children\u2019s educational outcomes at 8 years of age.","volume":"58","author":"Yisma","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol"},{"issue":"4","key":"zoi231270r23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2020.2503","article-title":"Association of term labor induction vs expectant management with child academic outcomes.","volume":"3","author":"Werner","year":"2020","journal-title":"JAMA Netw Open"},{"issue":"12","key":"zoi231270r24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3533","DOI":"10.1177\/0962280220932189","article-title":"Bootstrap inference for multiple imputation under uncongeniality and misspecification.","volume":"29","author":"Bartlett","year":"2020","journal-title":"Stat Methods Med Res"},{"key":"zoi231270r25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1214\/20-STS793","author":"von Hippel","year":"2021","journal-title":"Stat Sci"},{"issue":"4","key":"zoi231270r26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"292","DOI":"10.1093\/aje\/kws412","article-title":"The table 2 fallacy: presenting and interpreting confounder and modifier coefficients.","volume":"177","author":"Westreich","year":"2013","journal-title":"Am J Epidemiol"},{"key":"zoi231270r27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","year":"2017","journal-title":"Ann Intern Med","DOI":"10.7326\/M16-2607"},{"key":"zoi231270r17","volume-title":"The Australian National Assessment Program\u2014Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) Assessment Framework: NAPLAN Online 2017-2018","author":"Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA)","year":"2017"},{"key":"zoi231270r18","volume-title":"Statistical Analysis Guidance for EEF Evaluations","author":"Education Endowment Foundation","year":"2018"},{"key":"zoi231270r19","volume-title":"Widening Gaps: What NAPLAN Tells Us About Student Progress","author":"Goss","year":"2016"},{"key":"zoi231270r1","unstructured":"Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australia\u2019s mothers and babies. Updated June 29, 2023. Accessed June 10, 2023. https:\/\/www.aihw.gov.au\/reports\/mothers-babies\/australias-mothers-babies"},{"key":"zoi231270r16","unstructured":"Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). NAPLAN. Accessed June 10, 2023. https:\/\/nap.edu.au\/naplan"},{"key":"zoi231270r21","unstructured":"Australian Bureau of Statistics. Socio-economic indexes for areas. Updated July 27, 2023. Accessed May 20, 2023. https:\/\/www.abs.gov.au\/websitedbs\/censushome.nsf\/home\/seifa"}],"container-title":["JAMA Network Open"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamanetworkopen\/articlepdf\/2812095\/hiscock_2023_oi_231270_1699629973.10158.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,17]],"date-time":"2023-11-17T16:32:44Z","timestamp":1700238764000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamanetworkopen\/fullarticle\/2812095"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,17]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,1]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2023.43721","relation":{},"ISSN":["2574-3805"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2574-3805","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,17]]}}}