Births, gestation and birthweights in South Tees 1990-1996

The UK government has specified that all health authorities are to develop local health improvement programmes. Birthweight and gestational age are important health determinants, and therefore indicators of the health status of children in a community. They also have important resource implications for health and social services. Data regarding birthweight and its relationship to gestational age are not routinely available. This paper describes the results of the measurement of the birthweights and gestational ages of children born to residents in a UK health district, and their relationship with deprivation.

Routinely collected birthweight and gestational age data for children born to parents resident in the South Tees district during the period 1990-1996 inclusive were downloaded from the community child health department mainframe computer. The data were analysed and compared with national standards.

The analysis showed that, despite the high levels of deprivation, birthweights were close to or slightly above average for most gestational ages. However, when compared with the average district in England and Wales, 8 per cent more low-birthweight children, of which 42 per cent were less than 28 weeks gestation, were born in the area. Materially deprived mothers were more likely to give birth to pre-term and light for gestational age infants.

This study has shown that it is now possible to use routine sources of information to monitor local trends in birthweight and gestation, and their relationship with deprivation.