DID PRETERM DELIVERIES CONTINUE TO DECREASE IN FRANCE IN THE 1980S

To study the trends in gestational age and birthweight in France, we c ompared data from three surveys that were based on representative samp les of births in 10 French regions and were conducted in 1972, 1981 an d 1988-89. Only single livebirths were considered in the analysis. The rate of preterm births decreased from 7.9% in 1972 to 5.8% in 1981 an d 4.0% in 1988-89. The corresponding rates of children with a birthwei ght below 2500 g were 5.4, 4.3 and 4.7%. The mean birthweight of prete rm babies born in 1988-89 was lower than the mean birthweight of those born in 1972 and 1981. The reduction in preterm births cannot be attr ibuted to the improved accuracy of gestational age determination, but the general use of ultrasound may have played a major role in the appa rent reduction of the mean birthweight of preterm babies.