Abstract

Premature birth has an impact on many Canadian women. Since prematurity is not restricted to a particular group, it is not easily identifiable. However, it is imperative to understand the factors associated with premature births because they are the leading cause of infant mortality in developed countries, and represent approximately three of every four deaths occurring during the perinatal period. Premature birth is also accompanied by multiple and interrelated risk factors requiring health care providers from a variety of disciplines. The review of the literature reveals that there exists little agreement on the effects of prematurity, especially extreme prematurity, on child development. However, researchers agree that all domains of development remain vulnerable following a premature birth. This paper will provide an overview of prematurity and its consequences, notably those associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes. The challenges regarding research in prematurity will be discussed as well as the need for interdisciplinary research in this complex field.