Purpose: The primary objective of this study is to identify the changes in the birth weight of full term newborns in the Korean population over the past 5 years and to delineate their relating factors.
Methods: We used the dynamic statistics of the population from the Korea National Statistical Office which represents the current trend of social stratification. We analyzed birth records over a five-year period & studied the changes in the birth weight of full term newborns by year, gender, gestational age & Seoul or non-Seoul areas from 2002 to 2006.
Results: The mean birth weights of newborns in the 37~40 weeks range were 3,312 g and 3,210 g for male & female infants, respectively & decreased by 62 g and 49 g over the past five years. The birth weight in full term newborns decreased from 3,299 g to 3,243 g in total and there was no difference in the changes of birth weigh for each year, both sexes, each gestational age & capital or non-capital areas.
Conclusion: The birth weight of full term newborns in Korea has decreased over the past five years, showing that there are no big differences between genders, gestational ages, and Seoul or non-Seoul areas. We need to study more prospectively the demographic variables which cause the trend if the mean birth weight continues to decrease.
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