Paradoxes concerning low birthweight in Spain

The causes of low birthweight are still not well understood, and many researchers consider it paradoxical that this has increased as obstetric healthcare services have improved. Our objectives are to document the differences in the incidence of low birthweight in different population groups in Spain, and to analyze the possible relationship between fetal mortality and low birthweight taking several sociodemographic variables into account. We used the microdata on births since 1975 from the Spanish National Statistics Institute. We used logistic regression analysis techniques to examine differentials in the probability of delivering a low birthweight controlling for different sociodemographic covariates. We found that fetal mortality seems to exert a selective effect on the birthweight of live neonates when some sociodemographic variables are analyzed but appears not to do so if others are taken into account. Some aspects remain to be clarified concerning the effect that fetal mortality rates have on the incidence of low birthweight.

Paradoxes concerning low birthweight in Spain Articles