LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT IN GERMANY 1990-92

The reunification in 1990 of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) produced profound social transfo rmations. Changes in the distribution of low birth-weight (LBW, < 2500 g) in the two parts of the country between 1990 and 1992 have been st udied by analysing vital statistics for the period. In absolute number s, livebirths in the former FRG remained stable, while those in the fo rmer GDR declined by 51%. Numbers of LBW livebirths increased slightly in the former FRG and decreased in the former GDR; those in the categ ory between 500 and 999 g remained stable in the former GDR and increa sed in the former FRG. However in terms of proportion, livebirths in t his category doubled in the former GDR. Migration rates for the same p eriod showed a shifting population from East to West particularly of y oung people, and maternal age-specific numbers of livebirths decreased in both countries. Psychosocial stress may have contributed to the ri se in ELBW, but it is also possible that the improvement and sharing o f perinatal management strategies may have led to increased survival o f babies < 1000 g. Most importantly, the observed rise in the proporti on of ELBW births (except those < 500 g) could be a result of the intr oduction of the more comprehensive definition of livebirth into the fo rmer GDR.