DEVELOPMENT OF BIRTH-WEIGHT IN AUSTRIA FR OM 1970-1995

We analysed the development of birth weight of all Austrian live birth s in the period 1970-1995. The relationship between birth weight and t he variables maternal age, length and sex of the newborn and year of b irth is described by means of a linear regression model. Over the 26 y ears an increase of up to 609 was observed in the mean birth weight. T his positive trend may partly be due to the extensive use of the mater nity care program (''mother-and-child Passport'') introduced in 1974. Maternity payment was made to the mother if she underwent at least fiv e examinations within the antenatal care program. This payment was red uced from 15 000 AS in 1996 to 2000 AS as from January Ist 1997, a mea sure which may lead to a reduction in the use of this maternity care p rogram, with consequent negative implications for the morbidity of bot h mother and child and for the positive trend of birth weight developm ent over the past decades.