Changes in birthweight distribution from 1973 to 1982 in Addis Ababa

Birthweight data for 29 586 infants born in health-care facilities in Addis Ababa in 1973 and 1982 indicate that 40-60% of all deliveries took place within the formal health-care system. The mean birthweight increased by 107 g from 3075 +/- 585 g in 1973 to 3181 +/- 550 g in 1982. This increase was uniform over the entire birthweight range but was statistically significant only for infants of low birthweight, the frequency of such births decreasing from 13% to 8% over the period. Stratification of the data by sex indicated a similar increase in birthweight. The stillbirth rate decreased from 51.1 per 1000 births in 1973 to 34.1 per 1000 in 1982, but was statistically significant only for birthweights in the range 3000-4000 g. The shift in birthweight distribution reported here may reflect either changes in the demographic characteristics of the population or unidentified changes in medical treatment.