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[First examination of neonates. Results of early diagnostic documentation]
Insights
This study analyzed early childhood disease diagnosis data from 1977-1981. It found consistent differences in pregnancy stress by sex and a high rate of Cesarean sections in Germany.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Obstetrics
Background:
- An annual statistical evaluation of documentation for an early disease diagnosis program for children has been conducted since 1971.
- This study focuses on neonatal examinations from 1977-1981.
Purpose of the Study:
- To statistically evaluate documentation from an early disease diagnosis program.
- To identify sex-specific differences in neonatal outcomes and pregnancy risk factors.
- To analyze trends in obstetric procedures and birth weight.
Main Methods:
- Statistical analysis of documented data from neonatal examinations (1977-1981).
- Comparison of pregnancy risk factors, birth outcomes, and obstetric procedures.
- Comparison with Federal Statistical Office data and international statistics.
Main Results:
- Low sex-specific differences in "pregnancies at risk" data, but significant differences in psychic and social stress during pregnancy.
- Final pelvic position was more frequent in girls than boys.
- The proportion of operative obstetric procedures decreased from 1977-1981, with Cesarean sections at 12.4%.
- A higher number of low-birth weight newborns were recorded compared to Federal Statistical Office data.
- A strikingly high frequency of Cesarean sections was observed in the Federal Republic of Germany compared to other statistics.
Conclusions:
- Pregnancy stress shows sex-specific differences, while birth outcomes like pelvic position also exhibit variations.
- The high rate of Cesarean sections in Germany warrants further investigation.
- The data highlights the importance of continued statistical evaluation for early disease diagnosis programs.
Abstract:
There is an annual statistical evaluation of documentation, done since 1971, of an early disease diagnosis programme for children. At first examination of neonates in the years 1977-1981, sex-specific difference was low as regards data on pregnancies at risk, but definite and constant differences were recorded as regards psychic and social stress during pregnancy. Pregnancies at risk without any special features at birth were registered in 12.5%. In 58.4% of newborns no special features with regard to pregnancy or birth were recorded. In contrast to all other markers, final pelvic position was more frequent for girls than boys. The proportion of operative obstetric procedures has slowly fallen from 1977 to 1981. Cesarean section has recently been practised in 12.4%. With regard to birth weight of children, the documentation revealed a difference from the Federal Statistical Office, which showed a higher number of low-birth weight new-borns. Comparing the results with those of other German or foreign statistics, there is a strikingly high frequency of cesarean section in the Federal Republic of Germany.