[Multidimensional investigations to elucidate relationships between case histories of interruption of pregnancy and premature deliveries and low birth weight (author's transl)]

Abstract

Multidimensional retrospective studies were conducted into possible correlations between case histories of induced abortion and premature deliveries, on the one hand, and deliveries of "children with low birth weight", on the other, with reference being made to the ordinal number of birth. Included were 13,287 single newborns, after mothers with twins, stillbirths, and abortion records had been excluded. "Children with low birth weight" up to 2,500 g accounted for 5.4 per cent of these newborns. The investigation was complete, in that all newborns were examined in the obstetric department of the Regional Hospital of Schwerin, between 1969 and 1977. Records of premature delivery and induced abortion were found to play a great epidemiological role in the context of "children with low birth weight" up to 2,500 g, but the general trend for such children for the period under review had remained unaffected by the Free Medical Abortion Act of 1972. Nevertheless, mothers with previous abortions during the period studied contributed to a moderate rise of the total number of "newborns with low birth weight".

PIP: Multidimensional retrospective studies were conducted into possible correlations between case histories of induced abortion and premature deliveries on the 1 hand and deliveries of children with low birthweight on the other. Reference was made to the ordinal number of birth. Included were 13,287 childrne who were single newborns, after mothers with twins, stillbirths, and abortion histories had been excluded. Children with low birthweight up to 2500 g accounted for 5.4% of these newborns. The investigation was complete in that all newborns were examined in the obstetric department of the Regional Hospital of Schwerin between 1969-77. Records of premature delivery and induced abortion were found to play a great epidemiological role in the context of children with low birthweight up to 2500 g but the general trend for such children for the period under review has remained unaffected by the free Medical Abortion Act of 1971. Nevertheless, mothers with a history of previous abortions during the period studied contributed to a moderate rise in the total number of newborns with low birthweight. (Authors' modified)