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Birthweight and gestational age by ethnic group, England and Wales 2005: introducing new data on births

Kath Moser1, Kristina M Stanfield, David A Leon

  • 1Office for National Statistics.

Health Statistics Quarterly
|September 25, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Ethnic differences in infant health outcomes were analyzed for the first time in England and Wales. New data linkage enabled comparisons of birthweight and preterm birth rates across ethnic groups, revealing significant variations.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Perinatal Epidemiology
  • Sociodemology

Background:

  • Low birthweight and preterm birth are significant risk factors for infant morbidity and mortality.
  • Routine statistics on birthweight and gestational age by ethnicity were previously unavailable in England and Wales.
  • The introduction of the NHS Numbers for Babies (NN4B) system in 2002 enabled ethnic data collection at birth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present the first comprehensive analysis of ethnic variations in birthweight and gestational age in England and Wales.
  • To compare key perinatal indicators, including low birthweight and preterm birth rates, across different ethnic groups.
  • To investigate the relationship between parental socio-demographic factors and ethnicity in relation to birth outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized linked NN4B records and birth registration records for all births in England and Wales in 2005.
  • Analyzed birthweight and gestational age distributions, including percentages of low birthweight and preterm births.
  • Compared these perinatal statistics across various ethnic groups as defined by 2001 Census categories.

Main Results:

  • Significant ethnic differences were observed in birthweight and gestational age distributions.
  • Variations in rates of low birthweight and preterm birth were identified among different ethnic groups.
  • Parental socio-demographic circumstances also showed variations across ethnic groups, potentially influencing birth outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • The study highlights the importance of ethnicity in understanding disparities in perinatal health.
  • The NN4B system provides a valuable resource for monitoring ethnic inequalities in infant health.
  • Further research is needed to explore the underlying causes of observed ethnic variations in birth outcomes.

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