Determinants of Birth‐weight in the New Territories of Hong Kong

Abstract

Summary: Weights of babies born in the Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, in its first 2 years of operation were studied, and compared with previous reports. Birth‐weight in Hong Kong appears to have increased significantly in recent years. The method of data collection effects reference standards of birth‐weight. The effect of different methods of data collection and statistical treatment of data for providing reference standards of birth‐weight are discussed. In this series average birth‐weight increased by 6.8 g per year of maternal age, 13.3 g per cm of maternal height, 42.5 g per previous baby and 104.9 g per week of gestational age; males were 110 g heavier than females. The effects of parity became significant at 35 weeks, and that of maternal age and height at 36 weeks; the effect of fetal sex was significant from 38 weeks onwards. Copyright © 1987, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved