Sociodemographic characteristics influencing birth outcome in Sweden, 1908-1930. Birth variables in The Population Study of Women in Gothenburg

Study objective-To identify available in early Swedish delivery records and their relation to birth outcomes for home and hospital deliveries in Gothe nburg at the early part of this century. Design-A retrospective recovery of original delivery records and social var iables in a cross sectional population. Setting-Gothenburg, Sweden. Participants-851 fullterm singleton female births with known gestational ag e born into five birth cohorts on selected dates (1908, 1914, 1918, 1922 an d 1930). Main results-Delivery site, maternal parity, gestational age, and social gr oup were significant factors influencing birth outcome as birth weight and length. The mean birth weight and length of hospital born infants was consi stently lower than for home deliveries across all cohorts. Site of delivery changed significantly during the period of births under study, 1908-1930. Conclusions-In this study, which was based on original delivery records fro m the early part of this century, it was found that delivery site was an im portant factor influencing birth outcome across five birth cohorts. Utilisa tion of delivery services changed during the period of study. Thus, to avoi d selection bias, the application of delivery records should reflect the bi rthing practice of the time period in question.